A new survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) shows that trust in the United States as a security guarantor has dropped to its lowest level among Europeans. Across 15 European countries, only about 11 percent of respondents view the United States as an ally, and most doubt Washington would come to their aid if attacked. The survey was conducted in May across Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The report notes that many Europeans expect relations with Washington to improve after Donald Trump’s presidency but are simultaneously preparing to strengthen their own defense systems and reduce reliance on U.S. military support. Factors such as U.S. actions in the Middle East, threats against Greenland, troop withdrawal pledges from European bases, and uncertainty about NATO’s future have encouraged Europe to take more independent security measures.

The survey also found strong support for reducing dependence on U.S. military equipment and prioritizing European-made products, with the highest backing in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden.