Fewer Europeans see United States as an ally

The study was conducted in May 2026 among adults living in 15 European countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Support for the United States is falling; the vast majority does not consider it a reliable ally. Instead, Europeans are prioritising regional autonomy as well as local defence spending and investment.

One in four respondents in the survey considers the United States a rival or an adversary. The only groups that still perceive the US as an ally were those identifying as voters of the right-wing parties Law and Justice (PiS) in Poland and Reform UK in the United Kingdom. In Poland, these voters account for 24 percent of respondents. However, this result is not significantly lower than that from the final months of Joe Biden’s presidency. Toward the end of the former president’s term, 31 percent of Poles considered the United States an ally.

Almost every respondent stated that their country should reduce its dependence on American weaponry. The most numerous supporters of investment in the European defence industry were in Denmark (75 percent), the Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, and France.

“Clear support for reducing dependence on Washington has emerged across Europe. Europeans are increasingly open to higher defence spending and, crucially, show a surprising level of confidence that neighbouring countries will come to their aid in a crisis,” said Jana Kobzova, co-author of the study.

However, the issue of the EU jointly borrowing to finance defence spending is not quite as clear-cut. While an average of 47 percent of respondents supported this initiative, 35 percent were of the opposite opinion.

The authors of the report aptly stated that the shift in Europeans’ attitude following the new administration’s rise to power in Washington is caused by the sparking of a war in the Middle East, Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland, announcements of withdrawing American troops from European bases, and his scepticism towards NATO. Respondents from Poland were among the group treating the United States as an important partner. Approximately 46 percent of those surveyed would support further weapons purchases from the US.