Only one in ten Europeans considers the US an ally - new poll shows record drop in trust
Kyiv • UNN
A survey across 15 countries showed a drop in trust in the US as an ally from 22% to 11%. Most citizens doubt Washington's military aid.
Only 11% of residents in 15 European countries consider the US an ally that shares their interests and values. At the same time, the majority of respondents doubt that Washington would come to their aid in the event of a military attack. This is reported by The Guardian, according to UNN.
Details
According to the study, the level of trust in the US among Europeans continues to decline. While in November 2024, 22% of respondents considered the United States an ally, that figure has now dropped to just 11%.
The majority of those surveyed view the US not as an ally, but as a "necessary partner." Meanwhile, 13% of respondents called the US a rival, and another 12% even labeled it an adversary.
The poll also showed that in all 15 countries, the majority of citizens are no longer confident that the United States would protect them in the event of external aggression. Instead, significantly more Europeans are convinced that other European states would provide assistance.
The study's authors link these sentiments to the policies of US President Donald Trump, his statements regarding the future of NATO, the possible reduction of the American military presence in Europe, and general uncertainty regarding American security guarantees.
At the same time, more and more Europeans support strengthening their own defense capabilities. Almost half of those surveyed approve of joint EU borrowing to finance defense programs, and in most countries, support is growing for the idea of reducing dependence on American weaponry and developing their own military-industrial complex.
Separately, the study showed that the issue of Ukraine's accession to the European Union continues to divide public opinion in Europe. In a number of countries, including Hungary, Bulgaria, Austria, Germany, and even Estonia, there are currently more opponents of Ukraine's EU membership than supporters.
The survey was conducted in May 2026 in Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.