Donald Trump has sparked fresh tensions with NATO allies after reportedly considering punitive measures against countries including Spain.

The US president met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday night, as reports emerged that Washington could scale back its military presence in allied countries.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the US leader is weighing up withdrawing troops – and potentially shutting down military bases – in nations he believes have not offered sufficient backing for his stance against Iran.

Spain and Germany are among the countries reportedly in the firing line.

The move would mark a dramatic escalation in tensions within NATO, raising serious questions about the future of US military commitments in Europe.

Rutte declined to comment directly on the reports in a subsequent interview with CNN, but the speculation was further fuelled by Trump himself.

Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, the US president launched a fresh broadside against the alliance.

‘NATO WAS NOT THERE WHEN WE NEEDED IT, AND IT WILL NOT BE THERE IF WE NEED IT AGAIN,’ he wrote.

He then added a seemingly unrelated remark referencing Greenland, calling it a ‘huge and badly managed piece of ice’, a nod to his long-standing geopolitical interest in the territory.

The comments are likely to deepen unease among European allies, particularly in countries like Spain, where US military bases play a strategic role in both NATO operations and regional security.

The mayor of Rota in Cadiz previously warned that his town would ‘struggle to have a future’ if there was no naval base.

He said the base is vital for the economy and provides thousands of jobs.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.