On December 23, 2025, a fresh wave of international unease rippled across the Atlantic as new polling data and geopolitical developments underscored the growing rift between the United States and several of its closest allies. The Public First survey, conducted earlier this month among 10,510 adults in the US, Canada, the UK, France, and Germany, revealed that America’s standing in the world—at least according to its friends—has taken a significant hit since President Donald Trump’s return to office and his administration’s dramatic foreign policy overhaul.
The numbers are striking. According to the survey, a majority of Canadians and pluralities in Germany and France now view the US as a “negative force” on the global stage. In fact, near-majorities in these same countries said Washington tends to create more problems for others than it solves. Even in the UK, where the so-called ‘special relationship’ has long been a diplomatic pillar, sizable shares of respondents expressed skepticism about US reliability and global behavior. Americans themselves, however, see things differently: more than half of US respondents said their country is a positive force globally and can be depended on in a crisis, and nearly half believe Washington supports its allies around the world.
These findings, released just days before Christmas, come as President Trump’s administration doubles down on a nationalist, transactional approach to international affairs. Since returning to the White House, Trump has emphasized stricter border controls, rolled back US climate commitments, and moved to revoke a number of ideologically driven policies both at home and abroad. The White House’s newly released National Security Strategy didn’t mince words, criticizing European governments for what it described as a loss of cultural confidence and warning of “civilizational erasure.”
President Trump himself has been even more blunt, describing Europe as “decaying” and led by “weak” people—a characterization that has not gone unnoticed in European capitals. According to Borna, Western European officials have publicly downplayed Washington’s criticisms, repeatedly stressing that the US remains a key ally. Yet, the tension is palpable. European Council President Antonio Costa recently warned the US about interfering in the EU’s “democratic life,” accusing Washington of weakening the “rules-based international order.”
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has outlined a dramatic shift in its approach to Russia and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In a marked departure from previous US strategies—characterized by economic and diplomatic isolation of Moscow—Washington now counts normalizing relations with Russia and ending the Ukraine conflict as central goals. Moscow, for its part, has welcomed this change of tone, expressing hope for constructive work with Washington toward restoring relations and resolving the long-running crisis.
But it’s not just transatlantic relations that are feeling the strain. In the Middle East, US policy is having immediate and tangible effects. On Tuesday, December 23, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity reported a major disruption: gas supplies from Iran had been halted due to unforeseen circumstances, resulting in a loss of 4,000 to 4,500 megawatts of power from Iraq’s already fragile electrical system. Iran provides between one-third and 40% of Iraq’s gas and power needs, so the stoppage has left a noticeable dent in the country’s energy supply.
The ministry said, “The Iranian side sent a telegram informing the Ministry of Electricity of the complete cessation of gas supplies due to unforeseen circumstances.” The timing of this disruption is notable, coming just months after the Trump administration rescinded a waiver in March 2025 that had allowed Iraq to pay Iran for electricity—a move that was part of the president’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.
That campaign, which has been a cornerstone of Trump’s foreign policy since his return to office, is designed to tighten the economic and diplomatic noose around Iran. A senior US State Department official confirmed to Walla that the “maximum pressure” campaign will involve only diplomatic and economic measures, with no military action planned at this time. The official explained, “Iran’s destabilizing behavior threatens the national interests of the United States, and therefore President Trump has reinstated a policy of ‘maximum pressure,’ aimed at ending Iran’s nuclear threat, curbing its ballistic missile program, and blocking its support for terrorist organizations.”
In practice, this means the US is seeking to isolate Iran through sanctions, international pressure, and the withdrawal of financial waivers—rather than by opening a new military front in the region. The impact, however, is being felt most acutely in Iraq, where chronic power shortages are now exacerbated by the sudden loss of Iranian gas.
For Iraq, the consequences are immediate and severe. With up to 40% of its gas and power needs supplied by Iran, the halt in deliveries has left the country scrambling to keep the lights on. The Ministry of Electricity’s statement underscores the country’s vulnerability: “4,000 to 4,500 megawatts of power have been lost from the electrical system due to the halt in Iranian gas supplies.”
All of this comes at a time when Washington’s broader approach to foreign policy is under intense scrutiny—not just from adversaries, but from its closest friends. The Public First survey’s findings suggest that America’s allies are increasingly wary of the new direction, even as the administration insists that its policies are designed to protect US interests and restore American strength on the world stage.
European leaders, for their part, are walking a diplomatic tightrope. While publicly reaffirming the importance of the US alliance, officials like Antonio Costa have not hesitated to push back against what they see as overreach or unwarranted criticism from Washington. “The US must be careful not to interfere in the EU’s democratic life,” Costa warned, adding that American actions risk weakening the very international order the US helped build.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s pivot toward Russia and away from confrontation has raised eyebrows both in Europe and beyond. Moscow’s warm response to the change in tone stands in stark contrast to the skepticism emanating from Western capitals. As the White House seeks to normalize relations and end the Ukraine conflict, many are left wondering what this will mean for the balance of power in Europe—and for the future of the transatlantic alliance.
The coming months promise to be pivotal. With public opinion in key allied countries turning more negative, and with the practical consequences of US policy decisions playing out in real time from Brussels to Baghdad, the stakes could hardly be higher. Whether Washington can mend fences with its allies while pursuing a more nationalist agenda remains to be seen. What’s clear is that America’s role in the world—and its relationships with both friends and foes—are being fundamentally reshaped, one policy decision at a time.
As 2025 draws to a close, the world watches closely, uncertain of what the new year will bring for the United States and its uneasy partners.
