A majority of people in Germany oppose the country taking a military leadership role in Europe, according to a Forsa survey commissioned by the Körber Foundation. The poll has revealed a striking reluctance among Germans to see their country step into a military leadership position in Europe.
When asked whether Germany should assume a military leadership role on the continent, 61% of respondents said “rather no,” with only 38% in favor. The east-west divide remains pronounced: 75% of eastern Germans rejected the idea, compared to 58% in the west.
.The survey of 1,503 eligible voters, conducted between 15–26 September 2025, comes at a pivotal moment for European security. Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, persistent uncertainty about future U.S. commitment to NATO under a second Trump administration, and France’s push for greater “European strategic autonomy” have placed unprecedented pressure on Germany—the EU’s largest economy and most populous member state—to do more militarily.
People in Germany were split on whether the country should take on greater responsibility in international crises or adopt a more cautious approach. Overall, 48% supported deeper engagement, while 43% favoured restraint. In the west, 51% backed a more active role; in the east, only 35% did.
If Germany were to step up, most respondents preferred diplomacy over military action. In western Germany, 71% favoured a stronger diplomatic presence, rising to 84% in the east. Support for increased military engagement stood at 19% in the west and 7% in the east.
Views of the United States have deteriorated markedly since US President Donald Trump took office in January. Nearly three-quarters of respondents (73%) rated relations as poor. A year earlier, under Joe Biden, roughly the same share had considered ties good.
The poll also highlights a dramatic cooling of German attitudes toward the United States since Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025. Fully 73% now describe German-American relations as “poor” — a complete reversal from one year ago under Joe Biden, when roughly the same proportion viewed ties positively. Asked to name Germany’s most important foreign policy partner, only 26% chose the United States; France topped the list with 46%.
Despite concerns over military leadership, 72% said it was broadly right for Germany to double defence spending over the next decade. But 82% rejected the idea of Germany acquiring its own nuclear weapons.
Germany’s traditional restraint on military matters is rooted in its post-1945 constitutional order, the legacy of two world wars, and a political culture that long equated “leadership” with economic and diplomatic influence rather than hard power. The Zeitenwende (“turning point”) announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz days after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine — including the historic €100 billion defense fund and the pledge to meet NATO’s 2% target — was widely seen as a paradigm shift. Yet public opinion has not fully followed the elite consensus. Eastern Germans, socialized under the GDR and more exposed to Russian disinformation narratives, remain especially wary of any militarized German role.
(With Inputs from DPA)