European faith in U.S. alliance slumps

European confidence in the U.S. security guarantee has fallen to a record low, a poll suggests, with majorities in all 15 countries doubting America would come to their aid if they were attacked

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (left) has argued Europe must take primary responsibility for its own security, raising concerns about strength of future U.S. military support

If your country were attacked, how confident are you that the United States would come to defend it? %

Very confident
Fairly confident
Don’t know
Not very confident
Not at all confident
Spain
Austria
Estonia
Bulgaria
Switzerland
Denmark
Sweden
Hungary
Portugal
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
France
Britain
Poland

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European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) poll conducted May 2026

Austria (1,012 respondents / margin of error 3.4), Bulgaria (1,013 / 4.08), Denmark (1,004 / 3.5), Estonia (1,001 / 3.27), France (1,501 / 3.43), Germany (2,138 / 2.21), Hungary (1,005 / 4.46), Italy (1,503 / 3.1), Netherlands (1,012 / 4.08), Poland (1,570 / 3.09), Portugal (1,003 / 4.19), Spain (1,542 / 2.56), Sweden (1,077 / 3.3), Switzerland (1,067 / 3.39) UK (2,033 / 2.39)

Source: ECFR
Picture: Getty Images
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