Europeans View the U.S. as a Greater Threat than China, According to Politico Poll

According to the results of a new survey conducted by Politico Pulse, Europeans believe that the United States poses a greater threat to Europe than China. This research was carried out from March 13 to March 21, 2023, among 6,698 respondents from Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and Belgium.

The survey revealed that Europeans perceive the United States under President Donald Trump more as a threat than as an ally. Only 12% of respondents consider the U.S. to be a close ally, while 36% view the country as a threat. In contrast, China is seen as a threat by only 29% of those surveyed.

At the national level, the threat posed by Washington outweighed that from Beijing in four out of the six countries surveyed. Only respondents from France and Poland considered the threat from China to be greater than that from the U.S.

Spain showed the most negative perception towards the United States, with 51% of respondents believing that Washington poses a threat to Europe. In Italy, 46% of citizens also expressed the view that the U.S. is a threat, while 42% of Belgians, 37% of French, and 30% of Germans share this perspective.

Poland, which borders Russia and views its alliance with the U.S. as its main security guarantee, was an exception. Only 13% of respondents in Poland believe that Washington poses a threat.

At the same time, Europeans clearly identify Russia as an enemy. A significant 70% of all respondents consider it a threat to the continent. This indicates that despite the negative feelings towards the U.S., Russia remains the greatest threat to European security.

Earlier, a survey conducted by El Pais/Cadena SER showed that citizens of Spain view U.S. President Donald Trump as the greatest threat to peace. This statement is agreed upon by 81% of Spaniards, highlighting the seriousness with which Europeans regard the American leader.

Additionally, according to a survey conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, support for Trump among Americans is rapidly declining, reaching its lowest levels since his inauguration in 2025. This could impact international relations and the perception of the U.S. in Europe.

On February 18, 2023, a survey by The Economist indicated that nearly half of Americans described President Donald Trump as "corrupt," "racist," and "cruel," further underscoring the negative perception of him both in the U.S. and abroad.

Thus, the results of the Politico Pulse survey demonstrate a shift in the perception of the United States among Europeans, who no longer see it as a reliable ally but rather as a threat, which could have serious consequences for transatlantic relations.