According to a recent survey, about 20% of citizens in the largest European countries perceive the USA as the "main threat," which exceeds the number of those who feel this way about North Korea and China, reports Euronews.
The United States entered 2026 with sharp changes on the international stage. From the beginning of January, when Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was overthrown, to the recent conflict with Iran that resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, events are unfolding rapidly.
Europe seems to be shocked by these developments. A new YouTrend survey shows that trust in the USA among Europeans has reached record low levels.
In countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland, 20% of respondents consider Washington to be the "main threat." This opinion is more widespread than among those who feel this way about North Korea. Possible reasons for such views may lie not only in recent military actions but also in the ongoing criticism that the Trump administration has directed at Europe since taking office.
For example, Trump claimed that the EU was created to "fool the USA," criticized Europeans for insufficient NATO funding, and issued warnings about "civilizational suicide." One should not forget about the tariff war and the failed attempts to purchase Greenland.
Opinions of residents from different countries about the USA reflect the stance of their political leaders in the context of global crises.
For instance, Spaniards are the most concerned about the situation in the USA (31%) and are the only ones in the EU to condemn the attack on Iran. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez characterized it as an "unjustified and dangerous military intervention."
Is Trump leading Europeans into the embrace of China?
Interestingly, the survey shows an unexpected shift in Europeans' attitudes towards China, the main rival of the USA. Beijing ranks last among major powers in terms of perceived threat, and among 19 potential threats (including corruption, cybersecurity, and climate change), only 2.8% of respondents chose China's foreign policy as the most pressing issue.
Recently, China strongly condemned the killing of Ali Khamenei, calling it a "gross violation of Iran's sovereignty and security" and emphasizing that such actions contradict UN principles.
At the same time, US foreign policy ranks second in perceived threat level (21.5%).
The majority of respondents in France, Spain, Poland, Italy, and the UK believe that after Trump's presidency ends, US foreign policy and its relationship with Europe will improve. Spaniards express the greatest hope for this (55%).
In contrast, pessimism prevails in Germany: 47% of respondents believe that the rift between the USA and Europe has reached a critical point.
Migration is a key issue that needs addressing in Europe
On average, 31% of respondents identify migration as the main issue, especially in the UK (40%) and Spain (34%).
However, in Poland, the majority of respondents (42%) point to potential Russian aggression as the main threat, while 30% fear armed conflicts.
Italians exhibit a more lenient attitude towards Russia, with the lowest percentage among those who consider Moscow to be the main threat (39%) and those who are concerned about possible military aggression in Europe (11%).
The post "Every fifth European sees the USA as a 'threat'" first appeared on the K-News website.
