US faces deep trust crisis in Europe as polling shows record decline
Donald Trump, President of the US (photo: Getty Images)
According to a study by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), conducted in 15 countries ahead of the important G7 and NATO summits, Europeans no longer see the US as a pillar of support. The results were disappointing for the White House, according to Reuters.
Only one in ten Europeans today considers the US a reliable ally. This is an all-time low, indicating a deep crisis of trust in Washington as the main security guarantor.
The level of support for the US is rapidly declining, as just six months ago, this figure was 16%. In November 2024, it stood at 22%, and now the numbers have become critical.
These data were published by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). The study was conducted in 15 countries ahead of the important G7 and NATO summits. The results were disappointing for the White House: Europeans no longer see the United States as a pillar of support.
The majority of respondents have serious doubts and do not believe that the US army would come to help in the event of an attack on their countries. Washington might stay on the sidelines. This is the view of the vast majority of respondents in all regions.
Turn toward defense and own weapons
Europe is starting to rely on itself, and people are ready to pay for security. Support for increasing defense spending has risen by 4%.
However, not all countries are unanimous. Italy is the only country where a majority opposes rising defense budgets. In other countries, the mood is different.
Europeans want to jointly fund the army. The idea of collective EU borrowing is supported by 47% of respondents.
The most active supporters are:
- Portugal (59%);
- Denmark (56%);
- Netherlands (55%).
An important trend is the rejection of American equipment. Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden are calling for buy European. They want to reduce dependence on supplies from the US. The only exception is Poland: there, they still want to buy American weapons.
Attitudes toward Ukraine and Russian energy
Support for Ukraine remains stable, but nuances are emerging. The majority see Kyiv as a strategic partner. However, the consensus is becoming fragile.
When it comes to the future, there is less unity. The deployment of peacekeepers after the war is a subject of debate. The same applies to further EU enlargement to the east.
The energy issue also remains acute. Despite high prices, 44% of Europeans are categorically against oil from Russia. They do not want to resume imports of gas and fuel from the aggressor country.
The study was conducted in May 2026. Sociologists from Mandate Research and YouGov surveyed thousands of people.
What else is known about attitudes toward the US
An international poll showed that only 15% of adults worldwide named America as their top choice for moving. That is 9 percentage points less than between 2007 and 2009, when the figure was 24%.
However, even Americans themselves have begun to flee from Trump. The Canadian government has recently approved 1,955 citizenship applications from people born in the US.
