UK Quietly Breaking From America

Two soldiers with weapons silhouetted against fiery background.

British voters overwhelmingly support abandoning America for a Europe-only defense alliance, marking a stunning rejection of NATO’s traditional U.S. backbone amid fears that President Trump will leave Britain defenseless against Putin’s aggression.

Story Snapshot

55% of British voters support a new UK-Europe defense pact excluding the United States
Poll reveals widespread distrust in Trump’s commitment to defend Britain under NATO Article 5
UK already signed Security and Defence Partnership with EU in May 2025, bypassing U.S. involvement
Rising Russian threats include airspace violations, cyber attacks, and potential Baltic invasions

Voters Abandon Faith in American Protection

A JL Partners poll conducted December 13-14, 2025, surveyed 1,562 British voters and found a remarkable 55% support for establishing a UK-Europe defense alliance that deliberately excludes the United States. Only 11% opposed the idea, demonstrating how Trump’s presidency has shattered traditional confidence in American reliability. This represents a seismic shift in British public opinion, driven by legitimate concerns about Trump’s repeated criticisms of European defense spending and his perceived sympathetic stance toward Russian interests in Ukraine.

Europe Builds Defense Independence From Unreliable Allies

The UK has already begun implementing this voter-driven strategy through concrete actions. Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union on May 19, 2025, establishing formal cooperation on maritime security, space defense, cyber threats, and hybrid warfare tactics. This framework enables regular dialogue on defense readiness and industrial cooperation without requiring U.S. participation or approval, addressing voter concerns about American unreliability.

European defense spending has surged from €343 billion in 2024 to a projected €381 billion in 2025, as nations recognize they cannot depend on Trump’s America for protection. The EU launched its €150 billion SAFE loan instrument and Defence Readiness Omnibus program to accelerate procurement of missiles, drones, and cyber defense capabilities. These initiatives demonstrate Europe’s serious commitment to achieving strategic autonomy from an increasingly unreliable United States.

Russian Threats Demand Immediate European Response

British security officials have issued stark warnings about escalating Russian aggression that demands European self-reliance. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte urged preparation for WWII-scale warfare, while MI6 head Blaise Metreweli highlighted Russia’s expanding “grey zone” tactics including airspace violations, cyber attacks, and infrastructure sabotage. UK Defence Minister Al Carns warned that the “shadow of war” now looms over Europe, making American protection uncertainties a luxury Britain cannot afford.

Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion exposed the dangerous gap between European defense needs and American political reliability. Trump’s proposed “Article 5-like” ceasefire protection for Ukraine falls far short of the ironclad security guarantees Putin’s aggression demands. With Russian forces threatening Baltic nations and conducting regular airspace violations, European voters correctly recognize that depending on Trump’s America represents an unacceptable national security risk.

Bilateral Pacts Strengthen European Defense Coalition

Beyond EU frameworks, Britain has pursued strategic bilateral agreements that demonstrate practical alternatives to U.S. dependence. The UK-Germany Kensington Treaty signed July 17, 2025, establishes direct defense cooperation, while a £10 billion UK-Norway naval pact signed in December 2025 specifically targets Russian threats in the North Atlantic. These agreements show how European nations can build effective “coalition of the willing” partnerships without American involvement or interference.

James Johnson of JL Partners accurately observed that Trump’s policies have fundamentally eroded British faith in American rescue capabilities, forcing Europe toward necessary self-protection measures. This voter-driven push for European defense autonomy reflects sound strategic thinking rather than anti-American sentiment, recognizing that national security cannot depend on the whims of an unreliable foreign leader who openly questions alliance commitments and praises authoritarian adversaries.