In European Nations, 11% Now Consider US an Ally

European trust in the US has plunged into unfamiliar territory. A new survey from the European Council on Foreign Relations finds just 11% of people across 15 European countries now see the US as an ally—down from 16% six months ago and 22% in late 2024, when President Trump was elected. Most respondents doubt the US would defend Europe if it were attacked, Deutsche Welle reports, and majorities in every country but Bulgaria say relations will improve once Trump leaves office. The think tank said the results show a "collapse in European faith in the US," per CBS News.

The poll results underscore how sharply views have shifted as Trump's second term has unfolded, with tariffs on European goods, threats to exit NATO, a troop pullout from Germany, and a bid to acquire Greenland straining ties. The council said Europeans are increasingly focused on strategic self-reliance rather than assuming US protection. Most survey participants back Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion but are wary of fast-tracking EU membership or sending European troops, per Deutsche Welle. But they still reject a return to Russian fossil fuels despite an ongoing energy crunch. The share of residents who see the US as a rival or an adversary grew especially in Denmark, France, Spain, and Switzerland.