A major survey conducted across 15 countries has found widespread European scepticism about the United States, with most respondents no longer confident that Washington would come to their defence in the event of an attack.
The poll, released on Wednesday by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), shows what researchers described as “deep European distrust in the US” ahead of upcoming G7 and NATO meetings in France and Turkey.
According to the findings, only about one in ten respondents across the countries surveyed now view the US as an ally, while a majority in every country said they do not believe the US would provide military assistance if they were attacked.
The report also indicates a sharp decline in confidence over time. On average, just 11% of respondents still regard the US as an ally, compared to 16% six months ago and 22% in November 2024. Most participants instead described the US as a “necessary partner,” while smaller proportions viewed it as a rival or even an adversary.
Researchers linked the growing unease to concerns over US foreign policy direction, including Donald Trump’s approach to NATO, military presence in Europe, and remarks on territories such as Greenland, as well as broader shifts in Washington’s global posture.
Jana Kobzová, one of the authors of the report, said there is “clear support for reducing dependence on Washington,” adding that Europeans are increasingly willing to strengthen their own defence capabilities.
Her co-author, Paweł Zerka, noted that rising public support for self-reliance is creating “a window for Europe’s leaders to go further and faster” on defence cooperation.
The survey covered Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
It found that in nearly all countries, majorities now support increasing national defence spending, with Italy being the only country where opposition remains dominant.
Support for joint EU borrowing to fund defence projects stood at 47% on average, with strongest backing in Portugal, Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain.
A large share of respondents also expressed preference for sourcing military equipment within Europe, with strong “buy European” sentiment recorded in Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, France and the UK.
However, there was less enthusiasm for cutting domestic public spending to finance defence increases, with significant opposition recorded in several countries including Germany, Italy and Spain.
The idea of replacing NATO with a purely European defence structure received limited support, with only about 29% in favour.
Despite tensions, most respondents still believe relations between Europe and the US would improve after Donald Trump leaves office, a view particularly strong in France, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden.
On energy policy, 44% of respondents said resuming imports of Russian oil and gas would be a negative move, reflecting continued caution over energy dependence.
Meanwhile, opinions remain divided on Ukraine’s potential EU membership, with opposition outweighing support in several countries, including Hungary, Bulgaria, Austria and Germany.
