Europeans’ confidence in the United States’ “security guarantees” has fallen to its lowest level. Across 15 European countries, only about one in ten people sees the United States as an ally, and most people in these countries doubt whether the US would come to their aid if attacked. The findings come from a survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).
The survey report says many Europeans believe relations with Washington will improve after Donald Trump leaves office — but that, in the meantime, they are increasingly prepared to protect themselves by reducing dependence on the United States and strengthening Europe’s defences. The report says the US president’s aggression in the Middle East, threats against Greenland, pledges to withdraw troops from European bases and doubts over NATO’s future have all encouraged Europe to take practical steps. “There is clear support across the continent for reducing dependence on Washington,” said Jana Kobzova, the report’s co-author and a senior policy fellow at the ECFR. “Europe is increasingly committed to higher defence spending. Most importantly, they are showing remarkable confidence that neighbouring countries will come to their aid in a crisis.”
The survey was conducted in May in Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. On average, just 11 percent of respondents across these countries see the United States as an ally. In almost every country, most respondents said their country should reduce strategic dependence on US military equipment. Support for a “buy European” policy was highest in Denmark (75 percent), the Netherlands (72 percent), Sweden (70 percent), Portugal (69 percent), France (66 percent), Switzerland (64 percent), and the United Kingdom and Spain (62 percent each).
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report