How European Citizens View America
The disastrous withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan gave further credibility to the perception that the country has lost the status it enjoyed as the Cold War ended. That status as the world’s only superpower was eroded by the ill-advised 2003 war in Iraq and the 2008 global financial crisis.
As Trump’s “America First” policy turned the country’s back on multilateral military and trade alliances, geopolitical friendships frayed. America was no longer seen as a reliable partner for trade or defense. Although President Biden announced that “America is back,” old friends are reluctant to restore trust.
The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), a think tank formed early in the financial crisis, conducted an opinion poll following the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Fifteen thousand Europeans in eleven countries – Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Great Britain – participated in an online survey in November and December 2020.The resulting document is titled The Crisis of American Power: How Europeans See Biden’s America.
Most respondents are happy with Biden’s victory and believe it will be positive for their countries. However they doubt Biden will be able to restore the U.S. position as a global leader. Because of the U.S. response to Covid-19, and domestic polarization, they don’t trust voters not to reelect Donald Trump in 2024.
Majorities in key European states believe the U.S. political system is broken to the extent the country will be unable to address climate change, promote peace in the Middle East, or ensure European security. They believe that Europe must invest in its own defense (a position held by three-quarters of British respondents).
Most respondents believe that China will become more powerful than the U.S. within the next ten years. They want their country to remain neutral in a conflict between the U.S. and China. Biden’s call for a united U.S.-Europe front against China is not consistent with Europe’s changing view of Washington. The study noted that survey results indicate Washington would find it difficult forming joint transatlantic foreign policy.
Joint action is also less likely on economic issues. Pluralities in eight countries asked about economic issues said their country should “be tougher with the U.S. on … international trade, the taxation of multinational companies, and the regulation of digital platforms.”
None of this is to say that Europe is tilting toward China. Quite the contrary, previous ECFR polling found “Europeans are not attracted by the Chinese model, and the pandemic has made clear China’s hegemonic ambitions.” Rather, Europeans seek greater reliance on each other. Europe is not enlarging its presence in international politics; Europe is applying “for early retirement from great power competition.”