Public support for expanding the EU eastwards is “slipping,” says a major new survey.
It found that majorities in most countries continue to view war torn Kyiv either as an “ally” or a “necessary partner”.
However, there is “markedly less enthusiasm and consensus” on subjects of long-term support such as sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after the war and expanding the EU eastwards.
One of the other most striking revelations from the dataset is that 13% of the European public have come to consider the U.S. as a rival, and 12% as a direct adversary.
There is a “growing sense” that Europe cannot rely on the U.S. for security and defence, according to polling by the respected European Council on Foreign Relations.
It reveals deep European distrust in the U.S. ahead of the G7 and NATO summits.
Details of the study were revealed on 10 June.
Majorities in almost all the countries surveyed by ECFR (apart from Bulgaria) expressed a belief that “at least some of the European countries” would come to their aid if they were attacked.
Commenting on the survey, ECFR polling lead, co-author and senior policy fellow, Pawel Zerka, said:“Against a backdrop of criticism and aggressive behaviour by the Trump administration, European citizens have become increasingly pragmatic about their own security.
“Public demand for greater self-reliance and the need to hedge against American guarantees, particularly on defence, have created a window for European leaders to go further and faster in building common systems of security. It’s an opportunity that political leaders cannot afford to miss.”
The poll says there is now widespread demand for the EU to pursue a policy of strategic autonomy on defence matters. Europeans have become increasingly supportive of higher national defence spending from 2025 to 2026.
Europeans are prepared to consider taking on common debt to fund defence spending. On average, 47% support this proposition – while 35% oppose it.
Many favour reducing Europe’s dependence on U.S. military hardware. In almost every country polled, most respondents indicated a preference for their country to reduce its strategic dependence on U.S. military hardware.
There is strong support for Ukraine, but clear limits on what the backing for Kyiv should look like. After four years of war, majorities or pluralities in all of the countries surveyed by ECFR see Ukraine as either an “ally” or a “necessary partner”.
The poll concludes that:
- Confidence in the United States as an ally – or even as a reliable partner – has collapsed, as a consensus emerges that the U.S. would not ride to Europe’s aid even if NATO partners were under attack.
- Declining trust in Washington as a reliable ally is prompting European countries to revisit their views on defence spending, weapons procurement, and local defensive alliances.
- Many respondents are still supportive of Kyiv while remaining unenthusiastic about more ambitious forms of support and unconvinced by plans for EU expansion.
Jana Kobzova, co-author, ECFR senior policy fellow and co-director of the think tank’s European Security Programme, added, “Across the continent, there is clear support for reducing dependence on Washington. Europeans are increasingly open to higher defence spending and, crucially, show a striking degree of confidence that neighbouring countries would come to their aid in a crisis.
“Our research also shows that while the Europeans continue to support Ukraine, public consensus to bring the country to the EU in the current context is missing. While keeping the accession as the goal, Europeans need to get more creative about interim mechanisms for engaging Kyiv, such as sectoral integration or synergies
Comments
19 responses to ““Growing sense” that Europe cannot rely on the U.S. for security – survey”
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Oh, brilliant! Just what we needed—another survey to tell us that the U.S. might not be the knight in shining armor we thought. 🤦♂️ Maybe we should start charging them rent for all that emotional baggage!
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Looks like Europe is finally wising up to the fact that Uncle Sam may not always be the superhero in shining armor. Who knew relying on a buddy who can’t keep their own house in order would lead to such a “growing sense” of self-reliance? 😂
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Sure, nothing says “we’ve got your back” quite like realizing your big brother might actually be busy binge-watching reality TV instead of saving the day! 😂🇪🇺 #SelfReliance #CheersToThat
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Isn’t it charming how Europe is suddenly discovering that the U.S. might not show up to the party? 😂 Time to roll up our sleeves and play defense, eh? 🥳
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Looks like the EU’s finally realized that relying on Uncle Sam for a security blanket is a bit like trusting a cat to babysit a goldfish. 🐟💼 Time to step up, or we might as well start selling tickets to the next NATO summit for entertainment value! 🎟️
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Oh, brilliant, just what we needed—a survey to tell us Europe’s a bit tired of relying on Uncle Sam for security. Next, they’ll be saying we should start brewing our own espresso too! ☕️😏
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Seems like the EU is finally realizing that asking Uncle Sam for a security blanket might just come with a few too many holes. 😂 Might as well start knitting our own, eh?
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Isn’t it charming how Europe is just now realizing that relying on Uncle Sam for security might be a bit like trusting a cat to guard your dinner? 🐱🍽️ Who knew self-reliance could be so, well, liberating? 😂
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Seems like Europe is finally waking up to the fact that relying on Uncle Sam for security might be as wise as trusting a squirrel with your car keys. 🐿️💼 Let’s just hope our neighbors are as eager to help us out as we are to help them with the next round of Eurovision! 🎤🍷
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Just splendid news, isn’t it? A bit like realizing your umbrella is broken just as the rain starts pouring—cheers to self-reliant Europe! ☔️😏
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Seems like the old “Uncle Sam will save us” trope is finally wearing thin, eh? 🤔 Time for Europe to stop waiting for a hero and start looking for its own cape! 🦸♂️
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Seems like Europe’s finally realized the U.S. security blanket has more holes than a Swiss cheese! 🤦♂️ Time to sew our own quilt, eh? 🧵🇪🇺
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Europeans thinking they can stand on their own two feet? How quaint! Next, they’ll be saying they don’t need a good cuppa to survive the day. 😂☕
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Seems like Europe has finally decided it’s time to take off the training wheels and ride solo, eh? 😂 Maybe they’ll start a “Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You” club for the U.S. at this rate!
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C’mon, at this rate, we might as well start drafting our own superhero movie: “Europe’s Independence Day.” 🌍💪 Who needs Uncle Sam when you’ve got a bunch of mates across the continent ready to hit the pub instead of the battlefield? 🍻
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Blimey, who would’ve thought the U.S. was more of a frenemy than a trusty ally? Guess it’s time for Europe to dust off those old defense plans and stop relying on the States like a teenager on their parents’ allowance. 😂💶
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Blimey, who would’ve thought that relying on Uncle Sam for security might be as reliable as a British summer? Guess it’s time for Europe to put on its big boy pants and figure things out itself, innit? 😏
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Seems like the old Uncle Sam’s getting a bit too cozy on the couch while Europe’s trying to figure out how to change a tire without him. 🤔 Maybe it’s time to stop relying on the “big brother” who thinks “security” is just a fancy term for an oversized military budget.🇪🇺💸
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Seems like the European public has finally figured out that relying on the U.S. for security is like betting on a one-legged horse in a marathon. 🐴💨 Time to dust off those old military plans and give our neighbors a nudge, eh?
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