Image Credentials: Image Title: Poll: European Trust in U.S. Alliances Plummets Amid “Greenland Crisis” Source: (sora.openai) Date: January 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai) and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
BRUSSELS — A new Politico poll released Wednesday reveals a dramatic erosion of trust in the United States among its closest European allies, as the “America First” policies of the second Trump administration push the transatlantic partnership toward a breaking point.
The survey, which sampled thousands of respondents across the European Union, indicates that a majority of citizens in several key NATO member states no longer view the United States as a reliable security partner.
A Crisis of Confidence
The data highlights a significant shift in public sentiment following a tumultuous year of diplomacy:
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Germany: More than 50% of respondents now state they do not see the U.S. as a “reliable” ally.
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France and Benelux: Confidence levels have dropped to historic lows, with many citing the administration’s unpredictable trade threats and rhetoric as primary concerns.
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The “Greenland Factor”: The poll found that the recent political crisis sparked by President Trump’s demands to acquire Greenland, a move that rattled Copenhagen and led to threats of seizure, has left a “trail of collateral damage” across the continent.
Strategic Autonomy Gains Momentum
As faith in the U.S. security umbrella wavers, the poll suggests a growing appetite for European self-reliance. For the first time, a plurality of respondents in the “Big Three” (Germany, France, and Italy) support a massive increase in independent European defense spending to decrease dependency on Washington.
“The transatlantic relationship is facing a monumental challenge,” said one senior diplomat cited in the report. “What was once seen as inconceivable, a NATO country threatening the territorial integrity of an ally, has forced Europe to reconsider its own interests.”
Rubio Faces Uphill Battle in Munich
The poll’s release coincides with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s arrival at the Munich Security Conference. While Rubio is viewed as more diplomatic than Vice President JD Vance, he faces a skeptical audience. The Secretary is expected to continue pushing for “burden-sharing,” even as European leaders argue that the U.S. has effectively abdicated its leadership role.
Despite the friction, the poll did find one silver lining for the alliance: support for the concept of NATO remains high among the “Eastern Flank” nations (Poland, the Baltics, and Romania), who still view the U.S. military presence as an essential deterrent against Russian aggression, regardless of the political climate in Washington.