More Europeans see US as threat than China

At the national level, the threat from Washington outranked Beijing in four countries, with only respondents in France and Poland perceiving the threat from China to be higher.

Signaling a hardening of views toward the U.S., the poll also pointed to a deepening contradiction at the heart of European security politics. Voters want Europe to be better armed and more self-reliant as trust in the U.S. erodes, but their appetite fades if defense means personal sacrifice, bigger budgets or open-ended support for Ukraine.

Russia is a clear foe — it was seen as a threat by 70 percent of all respondents.

The European Pulse survey, conducted by Cluster17 for POLITICO and beBartlet, polled 6,698 Europeans across Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Belgium from March 13 to March 21.

People in Spain were the most negative on the United States, with 51 percent saying Washington posed a threat to Europe, the highest share among those surveyed. Madrid has taken the lead in opposing the war Trump launched in February against Iran and has been scolded by the president for its low defense spending.

In Italy, 46 percent said the U.S. was a threat, a stance backed by 42 percent of Belgians, 37 percent of French respondents and 30 percent of Germans.