LONDON - British public confidence in the United States (US) has fallen to a record low, according to a YouGov survey published Tuesday.
Only 30 percent of Britons considered the United States a "friend and ally" to Britain and Europe, which marked the lowest point since YouGov began tracking the question in 2019, a decline partly driven by intensifying trade disputes and increasing skepticism over America's role in NATO.
At the same time, perceptions of US hostility were increasing. Seventeen percent of respondents described the United States as "generally unfriendly," while 9 percent characterized it as "a hostile threat" to Britain and Europe, bringing the total share with negative views to 26 percent.
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Support for the United States as an ally has dropped across the political spectrum in Britain. Among traditionally pro-American Conservative voters, the percentage identifying Washington as a "friend and ally" fell by 19 points. Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters registered similar trends, with declines of 12 and 14 points respectively.
Even among Reform UK supporters, who in previous polls held the most favorable view of America, positive perceptions dropped from 58 percent in December 2024 to 49 percent in the latest survey.
Observers noted that skepticism toward the United States has become increasingly widespread among the general public. The so-called "special relationship" between Britain and America appeared to be losing its appeal, as 35 percent of respondents viewed bilateral ties as "close," down 6 points from December 2024.
When asked whether Britain should prioritize its relationship with the United States or Europe, 42 percent of respondents favored closer ties with Europe, up 9 points from December 2024, while only 11 percent preferred the United States.
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Analysts said that the erosion of public trust in Washington could prompt a recalibration of Britain's foreign policy, with an increased focus on strengthening partnerships with European allies in such areas as trade, energy security and defense cooperation.
