Europeans increasingly less likely to view US as reliable ally - poll

According to the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), which conducted a survey in 15 countries ahead of the upcoming G7 and NATO summits, Europeans no longer view the US as a pillar of support. The results were disappointing for the White House.

It was reported by the Reuters news agency.

Only 11% of Europeans today consider the United States a reliable ally. This is a historic low, indicating a deep crisis of confidence in Washington as the primary guarantor of security.

Support for the U.S. is plummeting; just six months ago, this figure stood at 16%. In November 2024, it hovered around 22%, but now the numbers have reached a critical point.

These data were released by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). The survey was conducted in 15 countries ahead of important G7 and NATO summits. The results were disappointing for the White House: Europeans no longer see the US as a pillar of support.

Most respondents have serious doubts and do not believe that the US military will come to their aid. In the event of an attack on their countries, Washington may stand aside. This is the view of the overwhelming majority of respondents across all regions.

Europe is beginning to rely on itself, and people are willing to pay for security. Support for increased defense spending has risen by 4%.

However, not all countries are in agreement. Italy is the only country where a majority opposes increased defense budgets. In other countries, the sentiment is different.

Europeans want to jointly fund the military. The idea of collective EU borrowing is supported by 47% of those surveyed.

The most active supporters are:

- Portugal (59%);

- Denmark (56%);

- the Netherlands (55%).

An important trend is the move away from American equipment. Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden are calling for “buying European.” They want to reduce their dependence on supplies from the US. The only exception is Poland: there, they still want to buy American weapons.

Meanwhile, support for Ukraine remains stable, but nuances are emerging. Most 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 the EU’s further expansion eastward.

The energy issue also remains acute. Despite high prices, 44% of Europeans are categorically opposed to oil from russia. They do not want to resume imports of gas and fuel from the aggressor country.

The survey was conducted in May 2026. Sociologists from Mandate Research and YouGov polled thousands of people.

An international survey showed that only 15% of adults worldwide named the US as their top choice for relocation. This is 9 percentage points lower than between 2007 and 2009, when the figure was 24%.

However, Americans themselves have already begun to flee from Trump. The Canadian government has recently approved 1,955 applications for citizenship from people born in the US.

Meanwhile, as the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, Europe is preparing for a sharp reduction in military resources that the US could send to assist the continent in the event of war or crisis, particularly certain types of equipment that Europeans cannot replace.

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