Kathrine Frich
There is also a massive push to stop buying American military gear
For generations, cross-Atlantic friendships kept the Western world feeling safe.
Nations trusted that their powerful friends across the ocean would have their backs if a crisis erupted. Today, that certainty is rapidly evaporating.
Trust hits bottom
European trust in American protection has plummeted to an all-time low. According to a report by the Kyiv Post, a new survey reveals that barely one in ten Europeans now looks at America as a true ally.
The data, gathered by the European Council on Foreign Relations and first published by The Guardian, points to profound skepticism.
Only 11% of people across 15 nations see Washington as a reliable partner. Six months ago, it was 16%. Back in late 2024, it sat at 22%.
Much of this chill traces back to the White House. Fears grew as Donald Trump criticized NATO and threatened troop withdrawals. Now, majorities in every single country polled openly doubt that American forces would come to save them if an attack happened.
Buying local weapons
Instead of waiting for help, Europeans are preparing to defend themselves. The survey tracked rising support for higher military budgets. Nearly half of the respondents backed the idea of joint EU borrowing to fund these new defense initiatives.
There is also a massive push to stop buying American military gear. Support for a “buy European” strategy cleared 60% in most nations, and it spiked to 75% in Denmark.
“Across the continent, there’s clear support for reducing dependence on Washington,” ECFR senior policy fellow Jana Kobzová said. She also noted that Europeans “show a striking degree of confidence that neighboring countries would come to their aid in a crisis,” according to the report.
Hope after Trump
Even with trust crumbling, people do not think the damage is permanent. Over 60% of respondents in France, Sweden, and Spain expect relations to rebound after the current president leaves office.
Still, the public is not ready to scrap NATO. Only 29% supported replacing it with an EU-only defense structure. They still value the old alliance deeply, despite the anxiety triggered by its current leadership.
Sources: Kyiv Post, European Council on Foreign Relations, The Guardian
