Editor's note: Pan Deng is a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

In the opening of his Politics, Aristotle observed that all communities are established with a view to some good. Yet for decades, the Atlantic association has been viewed by Europe as the "highest good," an immutable foundation of continental security. However, that foundation is now experiencing a profound structural failure. A recent "European Pulse" survey, conducted by Cluster17 for Politico and beBartlet across six key nations, has delivered a verdict that would have been unthinkable a decade ago: The United States, under the second term of President Donald Trump, is now viewed by a plurality of Europeans as more of a threat than an ally.

The data is sobering. Across Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and Belgium, a mere 12% of citizens regard Washington as a close ally. Conversely, 36% now define the US as a threat. This is a seismic shift in the continent's ontological security, forcing a necessary gaze toward more stable partners in the East.

The anatomy of anxiety: From protector to predator

The roots of this public disillusionment are deep, nourished by a consistent pattern of American unilateralism that has characterized the return of the MAGA doctrine in 2025. The current administration has not merely "pivoted" away from Europe. It has actively antagonized it. Since January 2025, the questioning of Washington's commitment to NATO's Article 5 has transitioned from campaign rhetoric to a structural uncertainty that leaves frontline states like Poland in a state of perpetual vertigo.

This geopolitical friction is compounded by economic aggression. The imposition of sweeping tariffs on European steel, aluminum, and automotive exports, framed as a tool for American industrial renewal, has been felt in Brussels as "trade bullying." When combined with the inflationary pressures of a global economy still recovering from previous shocks, Washington's "America First" energy and trade policies appear less like leadership and more like the extraction of rent from allies.

Furthermore, military adventurism has returned with a volatility that defies European diplomatic sensibilities. The launch of a unilateral conflict with Iran, a war that European capitals pointedly refused to join, and the surreal diplomatic maneuvers regarding the annexation of Greenland have signaled a departure from the "rules-based order" that Washington itself once authored. In the eyes of the European public, the US has transformed from the "arsenal of democracy" into a hegemon whose interests are increasingly decoupled from continental stability.

The dilemma of autonomy: The long shadow of dependency

This erosion of trust has revitalized the discourse on "strategic autonomy." Now, the concept might be a survival imperative for the European Union. However, as the Politico survey highlights, Europe faces a "deepening contradiction." While voters desire a self-reliant Europe, there remains a palpable hesitation when that autonomy demands personal sacrifice, expanded defense budgets, or open-ended commitments to regional conflicts.

The challenge of strategic autonomy is multi-layered. Historically, Europe's postwar security architecture rested on a "Goldilocks" logic: American protection was sufficiently robust to deter threats, yet inexpensive enough to discourage European strategic autonomy. To replace it now requires not just fiscal expansion, but a political solidarity that is currently under strain. Internal disputes between the "Atlanticists" and the "Autonomists" continue to complicate the bloc's ability to speak with a single voice. Yet, the urgency is undeniable. If Europe remains an "adjunct" to a volatile superpower, it risks being dragged into peripheral conflicts or becoming a casualty of trade wars it did not start. The path toward a "Sovereign Europe" is no longer just an option, but perhaps the only viable response to a transatlantic partnership that has become increasingly transactional and asymmetric.

A partnership of necessity: China, Europe and the multipolar reality

As Europe recalibrates its Western horizon, the significance of the China-EU relationship takes on a new clarity. 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, a milestone that coincided with a global demand for stability. In recent high-level dialogues, Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized a framework for this relationship that avoids the pitfalls of Cold War-era zero-sum thinking.

The Chinese position rests on three pillars: mutual respect, open cooperation and the practice of genuine multilateralism. This approach offers a contrast to the unilateral pressures coming from across the Atlantic. While the EU has historically labeled China a "systemic rival," the current geopolitical climate suggests this term may be anachronistic. In a world defined by "centennial challenges," the real rivalry is not between Beijing and Brussels, but between stability and chaos.

The potential for synergy is immense. In the realm of green energy, the two powers are the primary engines of the global energy transition. In emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, a coordinated China-EU regulatory and developmental approach could establish the global standards for "AI for Good." Even the thorniest issues, such as trade imbalances and market access are being addressed through equal-footing communication and technical negotiation rather than the blunt instrument of tariffs and sanctions. By treating differences as problems to be solved rather than reasons for "decoupling" or "de-risking," the two sides can anchor the global economy.

Beyond the rivalry trap

The Politico survey is a clarion call. The European public has recognized that the security architecture of the 20th century is crumbling. As the United States retreats into a fortress of protectionism and unpredictability, Europe's quest for strategic autonomy should be matched by a diversification of its global partnerships.

China is not a systemic rival to Europe's existence. It's a systemic partner in its pursuit of a multipolar, stable world. As the post-World War II world order navigates this fragmented landscape, the path forward is clear: Europe should find the courage to stand on its own feet, and in doing so, it will find that in Beijing, it has a partner committed to the UN Charter and a shared, prosperous future. The era of blind Transatlanticism may be coming to an end. The era of forward-looking strategic balance may be on the horizon.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on X to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)