Trump Thinking About ‘Punishing’ NATO Allies For Refusing to Help with Iran
The administration of Donald Trump is weighing potential changes to its relationship with NATO following a recent military operation involving Iran, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal. The report said officials are considering options that could include adjusting troop deployments and reallocating resources among allied countries, based in part on their level of support during the operation.
The discussions come as part of a broader review of U.S. commitments within the North American Treaty Organization and could have implications beyond the immediate region involved in the conflict, the WSJ reported.
The report, citing unnamed administration officials, said countries including Greece, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania could see an expanded U.S. military presence due to their support during the recent conflict. By contrast, nations such as Germany and Spain were identified as potentially facing reductions in U.S. troop levels or resources, based on their responses to the situation.
Spain, led by socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has drawn particular attention. According to the report, Spanish authorities initially declined to allow U.S. forces to use bases in the country for operations and later restricted certain military flights through its airspace.
The developments come amid broader tensions between Spain and the Trump administration, including longstanding disagreements over defense spending targets within NATO. Spain has consistently failed to allot even the basic 2 percent of its GDP to its military, per the alliance’s agreement.
Germany has permitted the use of its bases for operations related to the Iran conflict, but senior officials have publicly criticized the U.S. approach.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the situation as a “massive escalation with an open outcome,” and said the conflict was “not our war.” German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also criticized the operation, calling it a “disastrous mistake” and raising concerns about potential violations of international law, the WSJ reported.
Other U.S. allies have also faced criticism from Trump, including the United Kingdom, which he referred to as a “once great ally.”
The remarks followed decisions by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose government initially declined to allow the use of British bases for offensive operations and later permitted only limited “defensive” activities to be conducted from U.K. territory.
Additionally, France and Italy have been accused of denying U.S. access to their airspace and declining to participate in an international coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz while the conflict continues.
Expressing frustration with NATO in general, Trump posted comments on Truth Social on Wednesday criticizing the response of some NATO partners: “NATO wasn’t there when we needed them, and they won’t be there if we need them again. Remember Greenland, that big, poorly run, piece of ice.”
The dispute over Greenland has been cited by some European analysts as a factor in strained relations between the United States and its allies. At the same time, supporters of Donald Trump have argued that recent disagreements over access to military bases underscore concerns about relying on allies for strategic positioning, Breitbart News noted.
Trump has long been critical of NATO, a stance that has historically set him apart within parts of the Republican Party. However, in recent weeks, other prominent figures have also raised questions about the alliance’s role, including his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer.
Amid heightened tensions between the United States and its European allies, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited the White House in what officials described as an effort to ease strains within the alliance.
In an interview with CNN, Rutte said he understood why Trump had expressed frustration with some NATO members, while emphasizing that the majority of European countries had provided support during the conflict.
⚠️ TRUMP JUST TOOK A BOMBSHELL HIT — SHOCKING RESIGNATION NOBODY SAW COMING!
🚨 PENTAGON SHAKE-UP — TOP U.S. GENERAL CHRISTOPHER DONAHUE LEAVES EUROPE & NATO COMMANDS!
Gen. Christopher Donahue, one of the U.S. Army's most experienced combat commanders and the officer widely remembered as the last American service member to leave Afghanistan in 2021, has relinquished his senior commands in Europe as he moves toward retirement during a broader reshaping of the Pentagon's top ranks under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Donahue stepped down as commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa on July 2 after roughly 18 months in the position. The Army placed his deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher R. Norrie, in charge on an acting basis while the administration considers a permanent successor who would require presidential nomination and Senate confirmation.
Donahue also held a second, NATO role as commander of Allied Land Command in Izmir, Türkiye. The Army said he would relinquish that command on July 9, meaning both of the senior positions he had held since December 2024 are now behind him.
That timing matters because some reports have described Donahue as merely preparing to leave. By August, however, his departure from the two operational commands had already occurred. What remains less clear publicly is the precise effective date of his retirement from active Army service.
Hegseth Requested the Retirement, According to Reporting
The Army's public statement thanked Donahue for his leadership but did not provide a detailed reason for his departure. Fox News reported that Donahue submitted retirement paperwork at Hegseth's request. The Associated Press likewise described the move as an unexpected departure that came as the Pentagon was reducing the number of senior officers.
Because the Defense Department has not publicly released a personnel order explaining the decision in detail, the claim that Hegseth personally requested the retirement should be attributed to reporting rather than presented as part of the Army's formal explanation.
Donahue's exit is part of a much larger turnover among the military's senior leadership. Hegseth has repeatedly argued that the armed forces should reduce the number of generals and admirals and redirect attention and resources toward operational forces and enlisted personnel. The administration has summarized that approach with the phrase 'less generals, more GIs.'
Supporters of the restructuring argue that a leaner senior command structure can reduce bureaucracy and sharpen accountability. Critics, including some former defense officials and lawmakers, have questioned whether the rapid removal or early departure of highly experienced officers risks weakening continuity at a time of major security challenges in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.
A High-Profile Combat Career
Donahue graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and spent much of his career in special operations. He served in elite units and held command roles during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan before taking command of the 82nd Airborne Division in July 2020.
His most widely recognized public moment came during the final U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Donahue was brought to Kabul as the 82nd Airborne Division helped secure Hamid Karzai International Airport during the emergency evacuation that followed the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban's return to power.
On Aug. 30, 2021, a night-vision image showed Donahue boarding the final U.S. C-17 to depart Kabul. The photograph became one of the defining images of the end of America's nearly 20-year war in Afghanistan.
The evacuation airlift moved more than 120,000 people out of Afghanistan in a matter of weeks. Donahue's role in the airport operation received praise from officials in both parties even as the wider withdrawal drew intense criticism over planning, the collapse of the Afghan government and the deadly security conditions surrounding the airport.
The distinction is particularly important when discussing the Aug. 26, 2021, ISIS-K suicide bombing at Abbey Gate. The attack killed 13 U.S. service members and scores of Afghan civilians. Marines were responsible for security at Abbey Gate, rather than soldiers under Donahue's direct tactical control at that location. That does not remove the incident from the broader evacuation he helped oversee, but it avoids incorrectly assigning him direct responsibility for the gate's security.
Afghanistan Review Adds Political Context
President Donald Trump and Hegseth have continued to criticize the Biden administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. In May 2026, Hegseth ordered another Pentagon review of the evacuation and withdrawal despite earlier examinations by the Defense Department, U.S. Central Command, the State Department and congressional committees.
There is no public evidence establishing that Donahue was removed because of misconduct during the Afghanistan operation. Existing reporting instead places his departure within the administration's broader effort to reshape senior military leadership, while also noting that Afghanistan remains an important political and institutional backdrop.
For that reason, it would be misleading to state as fact that Donahue was forced out specifically as punishment for the 2021 withdrawal unless the Pentagon or other authoritative evidence establishes that connection.
Donahue Became a Central Figure in U.S. and NATO Planning in Europe
After Afghanistan, Donahue's career continued to rise. He later commanded XVIII Airborne Corps and became deeply involved in U.S. military activity in Europe following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
He assumed command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa and NATO Allied Land Command in December 2024, receiving his fourth star in connection with the assignment. Those dual roles made him one of the most influential American land-force commanders in Europe.
During his tenure, Donahue focused heavily on integrating U.S. and allied land forces, improving readiness along NATO's eastern flank and adapting conventional formations to a battlefield increasingly shaped by drones, electronic warfare and rapid data sharing.
The Army credited Donahue with helping develop and scale the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative, a concept intended to connect U.S. and allied forces more closely with NATO's regional defense plans. The initiative emphasizes a digital operating picture, faster decision-making and the integration of manned and unmanned systems.
Officials and military observers also highlighted Donahue's experience with the lessons emerging from the war in Ukraine. Reporting described him as one of the Army's most knowledgeable senior leaders on drone warfare and on the changing character of large-scale land combat.
Norrie Takes Over as Acting Commander
Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie is now serving as acting commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The Army says he will remain in that role until a permanent successor is nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
Norrie is an armor officer with previous command experience in Europe and at major Army training formations. His temporary appointment provides continuity while the administration decides whether the U.S. Army Europe and Africa position will remain structured as a four-star command.
That question has not been definitively resolved in public. The Associated Press reported that Army officials were discussing whether to downgrade the command from a four-star billet to a three-star billet. Such a move would fit the Pentagon's effort to reduce the number of senior general and flag officers, but discussion of a change should not be reported as a final decision unless the department formally announces it.
The Departure Comes During a Wider Review of U.S. Forces in Europe
Donahue's exit also coincides with a broader reassessment of the American military posture in Europe. Hegseth announced a six-month Pentagon review intended to examine U.S. deployments and push NATO allies toward assuming greater responsibility for the continent's conventional defense.
The review reflects one of the Trump administration's central arguments about NATO: European members should spend more on defense and provide more of the forces required for their own security, while the United States retains the ability to respond to major threats without carrying as much of the routine burden.
That policy debate gives Donahue's departure significance beyond the career of a single officer. U.S. Army Europe and Africa is a key operational headquarters for American land forces across two continents, and its future rank structure, staffing and mission could affect how Washington organizes deterrence against Russia and supports allied forces.
Four-Star Retirement Rules Are More Complicated Than a Simple Benefits Question
Another point requiring care involves Donahue's retirement grade. Federal law generally requires commissioned officers to serve at least three years in a grade above captain before voluntarily retiring in that grade. The defense secretary may reduce that requirement to no less than two years in certain cases, while the president may waive the service-in-grade requirement in an individual case involving extreme hardship or exceptional or unusual circumstances.
Donahue became a four-star general in December 2024. If he retires from active service before satisfying the applicable service-in-grade requirement and seeks to retire in the grade of general, additional statutory action would therefore be required. The law also requires the secretary of defense to certify that an officer retiring as a three- or four-star officer served satisfactorily in that grade.
It is more accurate to describe this as an issue involving eligibility to retire in the four-star grade, rather than simply saying Donahue needs a presidential waiver to receive 'full four-star benefits.' His eventual retired grade and retired pay depend on the statutory process and any reduction or waiver that may be approved.
What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear
Several facts are established. Donahue relinquished U.S. Army Europe and Africa on July 2 after approximately 18 months in command. Norrie is serving as acting commander. Donahue also relinquished NATO Allied Land Command on July 9. He submitted retirement paperwork amid Hegseth's wider campaign to reduce senior military leadership, according to multiple reports.
It is also clear that Donahue leaves behind an unusually prominent military record, spanning special operations, Iraq and Afghanistan, command of the 82nd Airborne Division, the Kabul evacuation and senior responsibility for U.S. and NATO land forces in Europe.
What has not been publicly established is a detailed official explanation for why Hegseth wanted Donahue to leave, whether Afghanistan was a direct factor in the decision, exactly when Donahue's retirement from active service becomes effective, or whether the U.S. Army Europe and Africa commander billet will ultimately be reduced from four stars to three.
Those unanswered questions are likely to keep the departure under scrutiny. Donahue was widely regarded inside the Army as a potential candidate for even higher command, including possible future service as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His early exit therefore represents not just another personnel change, but a visible example of how rapidly the Pentagon's senior leadership structure is being remade under the current administration.
