A recent ECFR poll of 19,481 Europeans across 15 countries shows that citizens now view the United States less as a steadfast ally and more as a necessary partner. Only 11 % see the U.S. as an ally, down from 16 % six months earlier, while 25 % label it a rival or adversary.

The survey paints a picture of growing realism. Europeans back Ukraine but reject EU eastward expansion and hesitate to deploy troops. Energy‑supply anxieties keep the public firmly opposed to Russian fossil‑fuel imports, pushing demand for renewables and a more autonomous European energy strategy.

Defense attitudes shift toward higher spending, an independent nuclear deterrent, and a buy‑European procurement model. Italians stand out in opposition to spending hikes, while Polish voters favor American weapons. Common debt for defense appears acceptable to most, though right‑wing supporters show division.

These findings arrive just before the 2027 European elections, compelling leaders to align policy with a public that demands strategic autonomy without abandoning NATO. Policymakers must now balance domestic security priorities against transatlantic commitments, or risk eroding the fragile consensus that keeps the continent united.