Negative views of US jump among Europeans: Polls

BRUSSELS (AFP) — Three-quarters of Europeans hold a negative view of the United States, a sharp jump compared to late last year, according to a wide-ranging survey published on Friday.

Based on polling across the EU’s 27 member states, the share of people with an unfavorable opinion of the United States has risen 14 points since October-November 2025, to hit 74%.

Just 24% of Europeans now view the country positively, the Eurobarometer survey found.

By comparison, 83% of EU citizens polled held a negative view of Russia, 61% of China and 41% of India.

The shift coincides with a period of acute transatlantic tensions as U.S. President Donald Trump has targeted the EU with waves of tariffs, threatened Greenland’s sovereignty and launched a new war in the Middle East.

The European Commission declined to comment on the survey findings.

“The U.S. is an important partner for us, and we work with them constructively on all the topics of common interest we have with them,” said commission spokeswoman Arianna Podesta.

At the same time, 73% of respondents described the European Union as a “place of stability in a troubled world.”

And the survey found overwhelming support for deeper EU cooperation on defense and security, with 81% backing a common policy in the area — the highest level in 20 years.

The poll was conducted from mid-March to early April across all 27 EU member states, with more than 26,000 people interviewed.

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By Agence France-Presse