A dramatic shift in European public opinion reveals that 73% of EU citizens now believe the bloc should pursue its own path independent of Washington, as support for the United States as Europe's primary ally has plummeted 20 percentage points in just two years.
The findings, released by the Bertelsmann Stiftung research institute, paint a picture of a transatlantic relationship under unprecedented strain. According to the survey, which polled all 27 EU member states plus the United Kingdom between September 2024 and March 2026, only 31% of respondents now identify the U.S. as Europe's most valuable ally.
Even more striking: 58% of Europeans no longer view Washington as trustworthy, representing a collapse in confidence that transcends the usual fluctuations of public opinion polling.
To understand today's headlines, we must look at yesterday's decisions. The deterioration reflects not merely reactions to the current American administration, but structural issues that predate Donald Trump's return to the presidency. Trade disputes, surveillance controversies, and diverging approaches to China have steadily eroded the foundation of the postwar alliance.
The concept of "strategic autonomy" has moved from academic papers to mainstream political discourse across European capitals. Once dismissed as French grandstanding, it now commands majority support among populations from Warsaw to Lisbon.
But what does strategic autonomy mean in practice? The survey data suggests Europeans envision greater independence in foreign and security policy without necessarily abandoning the Western alliance structure. as a security cornerstone, indicating that Europeans seek rebalancing rather than rupture.
