According to a study conducted by Euronews, about 20% of citizens in the largest European countries view the USA as the "main threat," which exceeds the number of those who consider North Korea and China to be such.
The beginning of 2026 for the United States was marked by significant events: from the attempt to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January to the recent open conflict with Iran, during which several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were killed.
Europe seems to be shocked by the ongoing events. A new survey conducted by YouTrend shows a record low level of trust among Europeans towards the United States.
In countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland, about 20% of respondents consider Washington to be the "main threat." This figure exceeds the percentage of those who view North Korea as a similar threat. The reasons for such opinions may not only be recent military operations but also the constant criticism that the Trump administration has directed at Europe since taking office.
Among Trump's statements, one can find claims that the EU was created to "deceive the USA," that Europeans do not contribute enough to NATO funding, as well as warnings about "civilizational suicide." One should not forget about the tariff war and attempts to acquire Greenland.
Attitudes towards the USA in each country reflect the reactions of their political leaders to current geopolitical crises.
For example, in Spain, where 31% of respondents expressed concern about the situation in the USA, the government became the only one in the EU to openly condemn the attack on Iran. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez characterized it as "an unjustified and dangerous military intervention."
Is Trump bringing Europe and China closer together?
The survey also revealed an interesting trend: Europeans seem to be showing greater sympathy towards China, the main competitor of the USA on the international stage.
China ranked last among major powers perceived as a threat. In a broader list of 19 potential threats (including corruption, cybersecurity, and climate change), only 2.8% of respondents chose China's foreign policy as the most important issue.
Recently, China expressed strong protest regarding the killing of Ali Khamenei, calling it "a gross violation of Iran's sovereignty and security" and pointing out the inconsistency of such actions with UN principles.
In contrast, US foreign policy ranked second in significance among threats (21.5%).
The majority of respondents in France, Spain, Poland, Italy, and the United Kingdom believe that after Donald Trump's presidency ends, US foreign policy and its relationship with Europe will improve, with Spain showing the highest degree of optimism (55%).
However, in Germany, the attitude towards the potential normalization of relations after Trump is more skeptical: 47% of respondents believe that the divide has reached an irreversible stage.
Migration is the main issue requiring resolution in Europe
On average, 31% of survey participants highlight migration as the primary issue, especially in the United Kingdom (40%) and Spain (34%).
Poland stands out in that most respondents view potential Russian aggression as the main threat (42%) and are also concerned about armed conflicts (30%).
Italians again demonstrated softer views on Russia, with the lowest percentage considering Moscow to be the main threat (39%) and those fearing new military aggression in Europe (11%).
The post Every fifth European sees the USA as a "threat" first appeared on K-News.
