Europeans View the U.S. as a Greater Threat than China

According to a report by Ukrinform, the results of a survey conducted in March by The European Pulse indicate that Europeans have increasingly come to view the United States as a threat, surpassing their perception of China. Specifically, only 12% of respondents from Poland, Spain, Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy consider the U.S. to be a close ally, while a notable 36% regard it as a threat. In contrast, 29% of those surveyed see China as a threat.

National data reveals that in four out of the six countries surveyed, the perceived threat from Washington exceeds that of China. Only respondents from France and Poland view the threat from China as greater. This marks a significant shift in how the U.S. is perceived in Europe, where it has traditionally been regarded as a close ally.

The most negative sentiment towards the U.S. was recorded in Spain, where 51% of respondents believe the country poses a threat to Europe. This is the highest percentage among all surveyed nations. In Italy, 46% of respondents also consider the U.S. a threat, while 42% of Belgians, 37% of French, and 30% of Germans share this view.

It is noteworthy that Poland, which shares a border with Russia, perceives its alliance with the U.S. as a key security guarantee. Here, only 13% of respondents see the U.S. as a threat, which starkly contrasts with the broader European trends.

Despite the growing negative perception of the U.S., Russia remains the primary threat to Europeans, as evidenced by 70% of respondents who believe that Russia poses the greatest danger to the continent.

Furthermore, the survey results show that 76% of respondents across the six countries are willing to support sending their military forces to defend a NATO ally in the event of an attack. This figure rises to 81% when it comes to protecting another EU country, indicating a growing solidarity among European states.

Additionally, 86% of respondents believe that Europe should develop its own defense capabilities, with 56% fully endorsing this view. The highest levels of support were recorded in Poland and Belgium (both at 95%), as well as in Germany (89%). This underscores the recognition of the need to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities amid rising threats.

As reported by Ukrinform, former Vice President of the Federal Intelligence Service of Germany (BND) Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven noted that the risks to Europe from Russia in the hybrid sphere could significantly increase in the coming years, even before the completion of its military rearmament. This highlights the importance of proactive measures by European countries to ensure their own security.

Photos from Ukrinform can be purchased here.

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