Survey finds Germans favour hiked defence spending

Bundeswehr soldiers taking part in the NATO exercise Quadriga 24 wait for the Federal Chancellor on May 06, 2024, at Lithuania, Pabrade | File Photo: Kay Nietfeld/dpa

By Jörg Blank, dpa

Berlin (dpa) – Following the U.S. presidential election and the collapse of Germany’s coalition, a survey released on Tuesday showed 73% of Germans believe Germany should invest more in European security.

But the survey, commissioned by the Körber Foundation, showed that 58% do not want Germany to take a leadership role, should the United States withdraw internationally.

When asked which part had the greater foreign policy competence, participants gave 28% to the opposition conservative chancellor candidate and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz. Economy Minister Robert Habeck from the Green party received 18% while the Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz polled 15%.

The annual representative survey “The Berlin Pulse” was conducted by the polling institute Verian in September and supplemented with an additional survey on November 7 and 8, following the U.S. presidential election and the coalition breakdown. The Verian opinion research institute surveyed 1,010 people in Germany over the age of 18 who were eligible to vote in September and 1,000 on November 7 and 8, following the U.S. elections and the collapse of the coalition government. All U.S. data was collected by the Pew Research Center in September.

Even in the September survey, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius’ (SPD) proposal to increase defence spending to 3% to 3.5% of the gross domestic product received 50% approval, while 15% said that was too low.

At the same time, a majority (65%) are against a military leadership role for Germany in Europe. Last year that figure was 71%. When it comes to greater involvement in international crises overall, Germans are divided: 46% were in favour in September – the highest figure since the survey began in 2017 – while 44% still oppose it.

Transatlantic relations under fire

The vast majority expect the election of Donald Trump to his second presidency would negatively impact relations with the U.S., with 79% holding that view.

As of September, 74% of Germans and 84% of those surveyed in the U.S. rated relations as good or very good.

The poll showed that 88% want Germany to prioritize its relationships with European partners, while 71% said the country should expand ties in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

For 46%, the U.S. remains Germany’s most important partner.

The three greatest foreign policy challenges, according to the poll in September, were Ukraine at 45% – which is the highest figure since Russia invaded in 2022, followed by 31% for migration and 17% for the Middle East.

Declining solidarity with Ukraine

Two and a half years after the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 57% of those surveyed still support military aid to the embattled country.

However, this figure has decreased compared to the previous year’s 66%. Support is particularly low in East Germany, where only 40% favour ongoing military support.

Some 47% of respondents believe Ukraine should defend itself until all Russian-occupied territories are reclaimed, while 43% think Ukraine should concede parts of its territory to Russia to try to end the war.

More Germans view Russia as a military threat

A majority of Germans – 82% – perceive Russia as a military threat to Germany, an increase of six points compared to the previous year.

Half of Germans (52%) believe that the deployment of U.S. intermediate-range missiles in Germany increases the risk of war with Russia.

Iran is seen as a military threat by 60% of respondents, and China by 57%.

Clear rejection of military aid for Israel

A significant majority of 79% are against military support for Israel in the war against the Palestinian Islamist Hamas militia.

At the same time, 64% think Germany should act as a mediator between Israel and Hamas and 87% support Germany’s humanitarian aid for people in the Gaza Strip.

Continued mistrust towards China

The growing influence of China is viewed negatively by 61% of respondents.

More than half of Germans (56%) also see China as a major threat to the domestic economy. An additional 34% feel at least a slight threat.

Six out of 10 Germans (60%) advocate for greater economic independence from China, even if it results in economic and job losses in Germany.