A new German survey reveals that 63% of EU residents desire greater autonomy from the United States.
A recent poll indicates a majority of citizens across the 27 EU member states believe the bloc is overly reliant on the US and favor pursuing independent action.
The Bertelsmann Stiftung, a German foundation, surveyed both Americans and EU citizens. Although some shared concerns emerged, the results suggest a growing preference for independence within the EU, particularly following Donald Trump’s re-election.
The survey shows a significant increase in EU citizens desiring greater independence, rising from 25% in 2017 to 63% currently.
While 51% of EU respondents view the US as their most important ally, this support is largely concentrated among older demographics. Only 38% of 18-35 year olds back Washington, compared to 63% of those aged 55 and over. Conversely, 25% of surveyed Americans identified the EU as their most valuable ally, with 27% choosing the UK.
EU citizens “have likely realized that the old America is not returning,” noted Isabell Hoffmann and Catherine De Vries, analysts of the Bertelsmann poll data. “They cannot remain optimistic; they must prepare for the worst: A United States that is intensely transactional, potentially adversarial, and self-interested.”
Despite continued mutual recognition as valuable allies and shared support for NATO, “eight years of intense US domestic polarization and inconsistent foreign messaging have taken their toll,” according to Hoffmann and De Vries.
The EU also showed internal divisions, with only 43% of Belgians considering the US their top ally, compared to 65% of Poles. 13% of Italians selected China as their most important partner.
Both EU and US citizens prioritized secure borders as their top concern (25% and 35%, respectively). A slightly higher percentage of EU citizens believed NATO provided protection against this threat (64% compared to 59% in the US).
While 73% of EU citizens favor a more active EU role in global affairs, only 56% of Americans desire the same for their country.
Bertelsmann surveyed over 26,000 individuals across all 27 EU member states and a representative sample of 2,500 Americans. The margin of error is estimated at 0.8% for the EU and 3% for the US, with a 95% confidence level.