A new survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) reveals that only 11% of Europeans now consider the United States an ally, the lowest level ever recorded. Six months ago, the figure was 16%, and in November 2024, when Donald Trump won the US presidential election, it stood at 22%.

The poll, conducted across 15 European countries, also found that a majority of respondents do not believe the US would come to Europe's defense if the continent were attacked. The findings underscore a dramatic erosion of transatlantic trust since Trump's return to the White House.

Since the start of his second term, Trump has imposed tariffs on European nations, threatened to pull out of NATO over insufficient defense spending, and expressed a desire to take control of Greenland, a territory of Denmark. The US has also begun withdrawing troops from Germany.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, said the breakdown in ties with the US demonstrates the "necessity to build a new form of European independence." The survey was released ahead of upcoming G7 and NATO summits.

While a majority of Europeans support Ukraine, they are cautious about its EU membership and deploying troops to fight Russia. Despite an energy crisis, respondents remain firmly opposed to importing Russian fossil fuels. The poll was conducted in May 2026.

Source: www.dw.com