BFPG's 2026 Annual Survey of UK Public Opinion on Foreign Policy

BFPG's 2026 Annual Survey of UK Public Opinion on Foreign Policy reveals a British public turning away from the world, as trust in the United States collapses to just, driven by widespread concern about President Trump's impact on UK-US relations, the economy, and national security. In response, Britons are pivoting towards Europe and the EU, though this shift is being driven more by flight from the US than by any newfound enthusiasm for Brussels, leaving this support fragile once real trade-offs, from fishing rights to trade barriers, are raised.

Nowhere is this growing distrust and disconnect seen more sharply than among young people, who are rapidly becoming less trusting of the UK's traditional allies, more open to strategic rivals, and less likely to identify as patriots than just a year ago, all while increasingly getting their foreign policy information from TikTok rather than traditional media.

Meanwhile, although Britons agree overwhelmingly that national security should be the UK's top foreign policy priority, support for the defence spending increases needed to deliver it, has fallen and collapses further once the public is asked to accept the trade-offs involved. As the UK navigates a more volatile and contested world, our survey shows that public consent for the difficult decisions ahead cannot be taken for granted.

Key Findings

The public is disengaging and the information ecosystem is fracturing.

After years of growing engagement, interest in UK foreign policy has fallen 12 percentage points over the last year, from 83% to 71%.

There are also growing generational divides among the UK public, with 42% of 18-25-year-olds using TikTok as their primary source of foreign policy information, compared with just 1% of those aged 66-and-over.

Trust in the United States collapses

Just 27% of Britons trust the United States to act responsibly on the world stage, down from 53% two years ago.

The actions of President Trump are clearly at the heart of this perception and 56% of Britons believe he is negatively effecting UK/U.S relations, 55% think he is harming our economy, and 47% think he is harming the UK's national security.

A pivot to Europe, built on shaky ground

49% of Britons state that Europe should be the UK’s top-priority relationship, well ahead of the United States, which polls at 20%, and other middle-ground powers, which poll at 10%.

Support is high even among Leave voters, who support cooperation with the EU on defence (76%), tackling irregular migration (80%), reducing trade barriers (67%) and engaging in research collaboration (62%).

However, support for closer trade ties with the EU drops dramatically when tradeoffs are introduced. Britons are more likely to oppose than support cutting trade barriers if it means EU boats fishing more in UK waters (37% to 31%).

While national security is a clear priority, support for increased defence spending is superficial

Among Britons, 47% believe national security should be one of the UK’s top foreign policy commitments, nine points clear of any other optiions

Support for raising defence spending to 3% of GDP over the next few years has fallen from 71% last year to 60% this year.

That falls even further once costs are attached. A majority of Britons (58%) oppose the increase if it comes at the expense of the NHS, while sizeable minorities baulk at cuts to education (46%) or welfare (42%).

Generational divides Are deepening

Young people are becoming less globally-minded, less trusting of traditional allies, and more open to strategic rivals. Just 25% of 18-25-year-olds now identify as patriots, down from 41% a year ago, and this age group now more often distrusts the United States (50%) than China (36%).

A willing but not fully ready public

Britons remain unconvinced the UK is prepared for a major conflict, but there is a clear well of goodwill to contribute in a crisis. 76% of Britons are willing to help distribute food, medical or emergency supplies, and 71% are willing to help keep essential services running.

Yet significant gaps remain between willingness and ability, most starkly among over-66s, 72% of whom are willing to help keep essential services running but just 41% feel able to do so.