Only One In Ten Europeans Considers The U.S. An Ally
5- 10.06.2026, 21:53
Survey.
Only 11 percent of Europeans consider the United States an ally—a historic low, according to a survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), the results of which were published on Wednesday, June 10. Just six months ago, 16% of residents in 15 European countries considered the U.S. an ally, and in November 2024, when Donald Trump won the presidential election, the figure stood at 22%, reports DW.
The survey shows that Europeans “are embracing independence and taking a sober view of Donald Trump,” though they do not expect a complete breakdown in relations under the pressure of current challenges. Most respondents said they do not believe the U.S. is prepared to come to Europe’s aid in the event of an attack.
The study was published ahead of the G7 and NATO summits in the coming weeks.
Since the start of his second term, Trump has imposed tariffs on European countries and threatened to withdraw from NATO due to what he considers insufficient support for the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran and low defense spending. Trump has also insisted on gaining control over Greenland, which is part of Denmark—a member of NATO and the European Union.
Last month, the U.S. announced the start of a troop withdrawal from Germany amid a conflict between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had criticized the U.S. war against Iran.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, amid Trump’s threats regarding Greenland, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the severing of ties with the U.S. demonstrates “the need to build a new form of European independence.”
A majority of respondents in each of the countries surveyed—with the exception of Bulgaria—believe that transatlantic relations will improve after Trump leaves office as U.S. president.
The survey revealed that most Europeans support Ukraine but are cautious about its accession to the EU at this stage and about sending troops to participate in a defensive war against Russia. On the issue of energy, most respondents acknowledged the existence of a crisis on the continent but “remain firmly opposed to imports of Russian fossil fuels.”
Compared to last year, Europeans are four percentage points more likely to support increased defense spending. Nearly half (47%) of those surveyed supported collective EU borrowing to finance defense projects. Respondents favor reducing dependence on American weapons in favor of European ones.
The survey was conducted in May 2026 among adult residents of Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
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