Study: Only one in four Europeans see US as ally as Trump strains ties

A report recently published by Spanish news outlet El Español said that policies pursued by US President Donald Trump have strained transatlantic relations, with only one in four Europeans now viewing the United States as an ally.

The article published on February 23 cited findings from surveys conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and London-based research firm Public First in cooperation with Politico, showing a marked shift in European public opinion.

Data compiled by ECFR showed a clear shift in public perceptions. In countries traditionally close to Washington, including Denmark, the United Kingdom and Poland, 58%, 53% and 47% of respondents, respectively, no longer view the United States as a "reliable ally" but instead see it as a "necessary partner" with limited expectations.

These figures are relatively moderate compared with sentiment elsewhere in Europe. In Switzerland, 39% of respondents regard the United States as a "rival" or even an "adversary." In France and Germany, Europe's two major powers, the proportion stands at 28%.

In Spain, only 10% of respondents regard the US as an ally of the European Union, while about half see it as a "necessary partner," according to the report.

Analysts said that efforts by Donald Trump to reshape long-standing international relations, particularly with Europe, are alienating traditionally close allies.

They noted that the decline in the United States' reputation has raised fresh questions over the durability of the global order maintained for decades, as well as Washington's standing on the international stage.