GLOBSEC poll: 71% of Europeans back an EU army; Germany alone sees US as majority threat

Backing for an EU army

Roughly seven in ten Europeans want the EU to have its own army, according to the GLOBSEC Trends 2026 survey, which Politico reported on 13 November 2026. The report covered 14 countries across the transatlantic space, including 11 EU member states, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States. Support was highest in Romania at 82%, followed by Lithuania at 78% and France at 75%. Further down the ranking came Latvia at 73%, Estonia at 71%, and Bulgaria and Poland at 70% each. Germany, which had long been reluctant about deep defence integration, recorded 69%.

Romania82%

Lithuania78%

France75%

Latvia73%

Estonia71%

Bulgaria70%

Poland70%

Germany69%

Romania

82 %

Lithuania

78 %

France

75 %

Latvia

73 %

Estonia

71 %

Bulgaria

70 %

Poland

70 %

Germany

69 %

Data from the article text

NATO and conscription

Support for stronger European capabilities does not appear to be a rejection of NATO, and the enthusiasm was not framed as a choice against the alliance. About 77% of respondents in NATO member countries said they would vote to keep their country in the alliance, and 78% in EU states backed developing the bloc's own defence capacity alongside NATO. Strong support also emerged for conscription: 64% of respondents in countries without compulsory service favoured reintroducing it. The highest shares were recorded in Czechia, France, Germany and Slovakia.

Views of Washington

More than a third of respondents across the surveyed European countries now regard the United States as a security threat. Around half of respondents in Germany, France and Britain share that view, compared with roughly a third in Central and Eastern Europe. Germany is the only surveyed country where a majority says the United States is a threat, which makes its result stand apart from the rest of the sample. The findings come as reports in recent months suggested Washington could pull up to a third of the forces it stations in Europe.

Ukraine and the war

About 40% of respondents agreed that Ukraine's treatment of Russian speakers justified the invasion, while 39% said the West provoked the conflict. Just over half consider the war in Ukraine important for Germany's security. Almost six in ten would accept territorial concessions from Ukraine in exchange for peace. These positions are described as reflected in more lukewarm support for Kyiv.

Nuclear weapons

Opinion is more divided on nuclear weapons. A significant share of respondents think more EU countries should develop them to strengthen Europe's security, with majorities in Poland (61%), Ukraine (57%), France (53%) and the United Kingdom (51%). In Germany, 41% backed more nuclear weapons in Europe. The report describes the issue as sensitive and says most surveyed countries do not see nuclear weapons as a deterrent Europe should invest in.

Poland61%

Ukraine57%

France53%

United Kingdom51%

Germany41%

Poland

61 %

Ukraine

57 %

France

53 %

United Kingdom

51 %

Germany

41 %

Data from the article text

Background to the debate

The concept of a European army has circulated for decades. It was revived in the 1990s and later lost momentum amid US opposition and Europe's commitment to NATO. Max Bergman, director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia Program at CSIS, said the main obstacle has been that the idea is considered impractical, even though it makes sense in principle. The survey results arrive as European governments weigh how to strengthen their militaries against continued Russian aggression and growing uncertainty over US commitments.