Nearly 85 Percent of Germans View U.S.-German Relations Negatively, According to Reuters

BERLIN (Reuters) – A recent poll reveals that nearly 85 percent of Germans hold a negative or very negative perception of U.S.-German relations, with many desiring to distance themselves from their traditional transatlantic partner. The survey, conducted by Atlantik-Bruecke and the Civey institute in November and December, indicates that just over 40 percent of respondents regard China as a more favorable partner for Germany than the United States.

The relationship between Germany, Europe’s largest economy, and the United States has suffered since the election of former President Donald Trump in 2016, who has openly criticized Germany on various fronts, including trade practices, defense spending, and its involvement in the Russian-led Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Despite Germany’s efforts to maintain amicable relations with the U.S., senior officials have publicly noted a decline in trust, particularly following Washington’s withdrawal from key agreements like the Paris climate accord, the 2015 nuclear pact with Iran, and the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).

Michael Werz, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a member of the Atlantik-Bruecke executive board, cautioned against allowing apprehensions about Trump to develop into anti-American sentiment. Meanwhile, Burkhard Schwenker, deputy chairman of Atlantik-Bruecke, emphasized the need for increased dialogue between the two nations.

The survey found that 57.6 percent of participants prefer more separation between Berlin and Washington, with 42.3 percent deeming China a better ally. Additionally, around one-third of respondents identified right-wing populism and protectionism as the most significant global threats, while only 1.9 percent expressed concern about Russia and 2.2 percent worried about China’s growing influence.