Europeans Have Labeled Trump A Bigger Threat Than China

• 9.04.2026, 14:40

The main adversary is still Russia.

The policies of Donald Trump have led to the fact that in leading EU countries, a majority of residents now consider the United States even more of a threat to Europe than communist China, writes Politico.

Although Russia remains the main adversary (it was named as such by 70% of all survey participants), Trump got half of its result: the United States was called a threat by 36% of respondents. China scored 29%.

The poll was conducted in mid-March in six countries-Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, France. Only 12% called the U.S. a close ally. Spaniards gave the most negative assessment: 51% consider the US a threat, 16% - a competitor, 13% - a partner, 17% - a close ally. At the same time, they are almost unanimously in favor of strengthening Europe's autonomy: 94% said the continent needs to become more self-sufficient and less dependent on other major powers, even if such a transition would entail significant economic costs. Spain was the first country to deny the United States the use of air bases and its airspace for an operation against Iran. A number of other European countries then imposed some form of restriction.