Kathrine Frich
Growing unease about Europe’s security landscape is reshaping public opinion as Russia’s war in Ukraine enters another year.
Many across the continent fear that instability is spreading, with citizens questioning both their own countries’ defences and the reliability of international partners.
A new multinational poll shows these concerns and how people are directing their frustration toward perceived global threats, including US president Donald Trump.
Political divides
Cluster 17 conducted the survey for the French geopolitical magazine Le Grand Continent, as reported by Ziare.com.
The study questioned 9,553 people across nine EU countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Croatia, Belgium and the Netherlands.
The survey explored how Europeans view broader geopolitical tensions.
According to Ziare.com, 55 percent said Europe should maintain a balanced position between the United States and China.
Nearly half, 48 percent, considered Donald Trump an enemy of Europe, though opinions varied widely between countries.
Concerns about immigration were also prominent. Many respondents described it as a threat to social cohesion, particularly in northern and eastern Europe.
A majority supported reducing public spending and the number of civil servants.
Rising fears
Just over half of those surveyed, 51 percent, said the risk of Russia going to war with their country in the coming years was high or very high.
Perceptions differ sharply by geography. Poland, which borders Russia and Belarus, recorded the highest sense of danger with 77 percent seeing a significant risk.
In France the figure was 54 percent and in Germany 51 percent.
Italy showed the lowest level of concern, with 65 percent of respondents saying the risk was low or nonexistent.
Varied perceptions
The study found little fear of a conflict with China. Across the nine countries, 81 percent said the prospect of war with Beijing in the near future was unlikely.
Le Grand Continent concluded that Russia remains the most clearly defined state threat in European public opinion.
Respondents also saw terrorism as an immediate security concern. About 63 percent described the risk of an open confrontation with terrorist groups as high.
Military doubts
Public confidence in national defence capabilities was low. Overall, 69 percent believed their country would not be capable of resisting a Russian attack.
France, the only nuclear-armed state in the survey, showed the highest level of confidence with 44 percent saying their country could defend itself.
Belgium, Italy and Portugal were the most sceptical with more than 85 percent of respondents in each country expressing doubt.
Sources: Ziare.com, Le Grand Continent
