- Poll: 78% Germans see Trump threatening NATO.
- Only 18% disagree NATO is endangered.
- Concern focuses on Trump’s aggressive foreign policy.
Berlin (Washington Insider Magazines) January 16, 2026 - The Körber Foundation's Berlin Pulse 2025/2026 survey found 58% of Germans identify US President Donald Trump's policies as the greatest threat to NATO surpassing Russia's Vladimir Putin at 52% and China's Xi Jinping at 47%. Conducted September 15-26 2025 among 2,045 representative respondents the poll documented transatlantic confidence erosion following Trump's second term inauguration with 65% doubting US alliance reliability contrasting 2021 82% confidence levels. Germans maintained strong NATO membership support 71% essential alongside 39% favouring 3% GDP defence spending exceeding NATO 2% guideline.
The annual survey captured shifting threat perceptions post-Trump November 2024 reelection tariff announcements NATO spending demands Greenland territorial rhetoric contributing alliance predictability concerns. Körber Foundation documented German preference multilateral cooperation European security capabilities alongside transatlantic partnership evolution deterrence maintenance imperatives.
Körber berlin pulse survey methodology statistical parameters
Körber Foundation commissioned forsa Gesellschaft für Sozialforschung telephone survey 2,045 German adults aged 18+ September 15-26 2025 achieving 1.2% margin error 95% confidence intervals demographic quotas age gender education region political orientation weighting. Fieldwork utilised landline mobile sampling ensuring statistical robustness urban-rural balance representation across federal states eastern-western Germany divides.
Survey instrument contained 45 questions covering threat perceptions alliance confidence defence spending preferences multilateral cooperation European autonomous capabilities NATO deterrence credibility German foreign security policy attitudes annual benchmark establishment longitudinal comparison capability.
Trump policies identified greatest nato threat 58% respondents
58% German respondents ranked Trump's policies primary NATO threat ahead Putin 52% Xi 47% reflecting second term tariff threats NATO spending demands Greenland acquisition proposals alliance skepticism documentation. 65% expressed US reliability doubts contrasting 2021 82% confidence post-Afghanistan withdrawal erosion cumulative tariff NATO rhetoric acceleration.
Körber documented 71% NATO membership essential national security 39% support 3% GDP defence spending €92 billion annual exceeding 2% guideline €73 billion 2025 achievement 28% favour EU autonomous capabilities NATO complementarity strategic evolution documentation.
Russian aggression maintains substantial threat perception ranking
52% respondents positioned Putin policies second NATO threat documenting Ukraine invasion hybrid threats Baltic cyber operations deterrence imperatives eastern flank reinforcement priorities. Survey recorded 68% Ukraine military assistance support 82% economic sanctions maintenance solidarity NATO capability targets fulfilment Bundeswehr contributions execution.
Germany achieved 2% GDP defence spending 2025 €73 billion Bundeswehr modernisation F-35 Eurofighter Tranche 4 Patriot systems acquisition NATO eastern flank deterrence reinforcement alliance burden sharing leadership demonstration European security responsibility enhancement imperatives.
China economic security concerns rise threat rankings
47% identified Xi policies third NATO threat reflecting economic coercion Taiwan tensions critical raw materials vulnerabilities strategic autonomy industrial sovereignty imperatives supply chain resilience enhancement. Körber documented 62% EU-China de-risking support 71% critical minerals diversification Australia Canada partnerships battery electric vehicle industry competitiveness maintenance execution.
German automotive sector €450 billion turnover 5.2 million jobs faced BYD CATL pricing competition EU Critical Raw Materials Act coordination strategic autonomy industrial base development geopolitical risk diversification imperatives alliance framework complementarity execution.
NATO membership retains 71% essential status german opinion
71% Germans affirmed NATO membership essential 82% collective defence Article 5 guarantee deterrence credibility maintenance imperatives multilateral cooperation burden sharing transatlantic evolution European Pillar development complementarity. 39% supported 3% GDP defence investment 28% EU autonomous capabilities preference reflecting balanced security architecture NATO framework strategic autonomy industrial competitiveness enhancement.
Bundeswehr Special Fund €100 billion 2022-2026 procurement acceleration ammunition production air defence systems NATO targets fulfilment alliance leadership eastern flank deterrence reinforcement European security responsibility enhancement geopolitical risk management coordination imperatives.
Defence spending preferences exceed 2% gdp nato target
39% Germans endorsed 3% GDP €92 billion defence spending Bundeswehr procurement exceeding 2% guideline 2025 €73 billion achievement industrial competitiveness strategic autonomy enhancement alliance leadership contribution imperatives. 28% preferred EU autonomous capabilities NATO membership complementarity 18% alliance withdrawal reflecting security architecture evolution preferences documentation.
Germany coordinated 14 PESCO projects MGCS future combat air system European Sky Shield Initiative air defence interoperability NATO framework industrial base development strategic autonomy execution alliance burden sharing leadership demonstration European Defence Fund €8 billion 2021-2027 allocation support.
European pillar complements transatlantic partnership evolution
28% supported EU autonomous capabilities NATO framework reflecting Permanent Structured Cooperation PESCO €8 billion European Defence Fund industrial competitiveness enhancement strategic autonomy imperatives alliance complementarity execution. Germany led MGCS Eurodrone next generation fighter air defence missile systems PESCO contributions NATO capability targets fulfilment eastern flank deterrence reinforcement priorities.
Körber survey positioned European Pillar transatlantic evolution post-Trump policy predictability confidence restoration multilateral cooperation burden sharing imperatives German leadership alliance contribution enhancement strategic autonomy industrial sovereignty development coordination execution.
Ukraine military assistance enjoys 68% German endorsement
68% Germans backed Ukraine military assistance €8.5 billion Bundeswehr Leopard 2 IRIS-T artillery delivery Ramstein Contact Group 52 nations coordination European Peace Facility €7.1 billion contributions alliance burden sharing eastern flank solidarity execution. 82% supported economic sanctions maintenance deterrence reinforcement NATO capability targets fulfilment strategic autonomy industrial base development imperatives.
Germany hosted Ramstein Ukraine Defense Contact Group coordination €45 billion 52 nations military assistance alliance leadership eastern flank deterrence reinforcement European security responsibility enhancement geopolitical risk diversification coordination imperatives execution.
Bundeswehr modernisation special fund procurement acceleration
Bundeswehr €100 billion Special Fund 2022-2026 achieved 2% GDP €73 billion 2025 F-35 Eurofighter Patriot air defence modernisation NATO targets fulfilment alliance burden sharing leadership demonstration. Körber documented 72% defence spending doubling support ten-year plan industrial competitiveness strategic autonomy enhancement European security responsibility NATO framework complementarity execution.
Procurement acceleration ammunition production capacity air defence missile systems future vertical lift Eurodrone next generation fighter industrial base development alliance eastern flank deterrence reinforcement priorities strategic autonomy imperatives execution.
Critical raw materials diversification eu strategic priorities
62% endorsed EU-China de-risking 71% critical minerals diversification Australia Canada Greenland partnerships supply chain resilience strategic autonomy industrial sovereignty imperatives battery recycling facilities circular economy execution. German Battery Alliance €2.1 billion 42 GWh production capacity 2030 VW Audi BMW Porsche integrated cell production EU Critical Raw Materials Act coordination.
IPCEI hydrogen battery microelectronics €12.4 billion 92 projects 14 member states industrial competitiveness strategic autonomy enhancement alliance leadership contribution geopolitical risk management coordination imperatives execution supply chain resilience enhancement.
German automotive industry competitiveness challenges
German automotive €450 billion turnover 5.2 million jobs confronted BYD CATL electric vehicle pricing competition North American market penetration EU industrial policy de-risking critical minerals diversification strategic autonomy imperatives. Körber captured 71% industrial policy support supply chain resilience enhancement geopolitical risk management coordination alliance framework industrial sovereignty execution.
European Battery Alliance coordination VW Audi BMW Porsche battery cell production recycling facilities circular economy strategic autonomy enhancement alliance leadership contribution imperatives supply chain vulnerabilities mitigation execution.
Pesco European defence fund industrial base enhancement
Germany coordinated 14 PESCO projects €2.1 billion European Defence Fund 60 projects air defence missiles future vertical lift Eurodrone next generation fighter industrial competitiveness strategic autonomy NATO framework complementarity execution. Körber positioned PESCO industrial base development alliance burden sharing leadership eastern flank deterrence reinforcement European security responsibility enhancement imperatives.
€8 billion 2021-2027 European Defence Fund allocation industrial competitiveness strategic autonomy enhancement alliance framework execution multilateral cooperation burden sharing transatlantic evolution post-Trump policy predictability confidence restoration imperatives German leadership contribution documentation.