Overview
- The European Council on Foreign Relations published a May poll on June 10 that surveyed 19,481 adults across 15 countries and found just 11% now view the United States as an ally and majorities doubt Washington would come to their defence.
- Trust in the U.S. has fallen sharply from 22% in November 2024 to 16% six months ago and 11% in the latest survey, and coverage links the decline to recent policies of President Trump including tariff threats and announced troop withdrawals.
- Support for greater European strategic autonomy has risen, with respondents more likely than a year ago to back higher national defence spending, a preference for buying European-made military hardware and 47% backing joint EU borrowing to fund defence projects.
- Attitudes vary widely by country: Poland showed the highest confidence in U.S. defence (about 38%) while Spain was lowest (about 13%), and Italy remains the most opposed to raising defence budgets at home.
- Most Europeans still back Ukraine as an ally or strategic partner but oppose sending national troops after a peace deal, and many expect transatlantic ties to improve once President Trump leaves office, a factor likely to shape G7 and NATO talks.