(Adnkronos) – Around 71% of European citizens want Europe to have its own army. This is revealed by the results of a new survey, seen by Politico, which highlight growing unease about Washington’s reliability and deep divisions regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine. The “Trends 2026” report, drafted by the security-specialized think tank Globsec, notes that support for the creation of an EU army is high in all member countries examined: it reaches 82% in Romania, followed by Lithuania with 78% and France with 75%.
Even in countries traditionally cautious about European defense integration, the majority of the population has expressed support: approximately 70% of respondents in Poland and Bulgaria support the idea, and 69% in Germany. Support for the development of European military capabilities does not seem to represent a criticism of NATO. Approximately 77% of respondents in member countries state that they would vote in favor of remaining in the Alliance, and 78% of respondents in EU countries express support for the development of the Union’s own defense capabilities, in addition to those of the Alliance.
Strong support also emerged for the most direct form of contribution to national defense: compulsory conscription. According to the report, among respondents in countries where compulsory military service is not foreseen, 64% declared themselves in favor of its reintroduction; the highest percentages are recorded in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and Slovakia.
The attitude towards Washington reveals a growing rift in transatlantic relations: over a third of respondents in the European countries surveyed now consider the United States a security threat. Approximately half of respondents in Germany, France, and Great Britain hold this opinion, compared to about a third in Central and Eastern Europe. Germany is the only country among those surveyed where the majority of respondents stated they consider Washington a security threat.
The country also stands out for its attitude towards the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Approximately 40% of respondents agree with the statement that Ukraine’s treatment of Russian speakers would justify the invasion, while 39% believe that the West provoked the conflict.
These positions are reflected in more lukewarm support for Kyiv. Just over half of respondents consider the war in Ukraine important for Germany’s security, while almost six out of ten would accept territorial concessions from Ukraine in exchange for peace. The results then seem to highlight a political paradox: voters desire a stronger European military apparatus, but remain tied to NATO, even as trust in its most powerful member appears to be constantly declining.
