A poll ran by the American politics-focused digital newspaper The Politico in February 2026 and involving 5 countries revealed one-star and two-star ratings on the current efforts of the United States to protect democracy and remain dependable during a crisis.
The poll was conducted between 6 February and 9 February 2026 was participated in by respondents in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The questions revolved around perceptions on the protection of democracy, the role of the U.S. in maintaining global stability, and overall dependability or reliability.
Many Western European allies are increasingly moving toward strategy autonomy. They perceived the current U.S. government as fundamentally changed. This stems from political polarization and its tendency toward sudden shifts in foreign policy every 4 to 8 years.
They specifically see the U.S. as no longer a constant but a variable. Allies are also worried about the expansion of presidential power and the potential for the U.S. civil service to be politicized. There is also a significant concern over the U.S. transition of power process due to emerging trends in which U.S. election results are contested.
It is also important to underscore exhaustion with the so-called policy whiplash. This is when a particular U.S. presidential administration partakes in an international agreement only for the next administration to withdraw and adopt a defiant stance.
A staggering 43 percent of Canadians see the U.S. as mostly a threat to global stability. Moreover, 57 percent of Canadians, 51 percent of Germans, 47 percent of the French, and 42 percent of the British respondents believe that the U.S. government cannot be depended on in a crisis. These concerns come from recent clashes with trade and defense.
Furthermore, while the second Trump administration has touted the U.S. as the global leader in artificial intelligence and chip production, 54 percent in Canada, 55 percent in Germany, 53 percent in the U.K., and 50 percent in France see China as the current global tech leader.
Note that the combined number of respondents, including those from the United States and the rest of the four countries, was 10289 adults. France had 2025 respondents. Germany had 2062, while the U.K. had 2042. Canada had 2096. These were weighted on interlocking age and gender, and other demographic profiles like region and education level.
FURTHER READING AND REFERENCE
- Wiederkehr, A. and Doherty, E. 14 March 2026. “The Reviews Are In. It’s Not Looking Good, America.” The Politico. Available online