Defense & National Security

As the U.S. and Germany prepare to gain new leadership, their relationship remains unbalanced in the minds of their citizenries. Americans see Germany as a partner on many foreign policy issues, but Germans mostly do not.

International relations experts' assessment of the current crises facing the world are often at odds with those of the U.S. general public.

The United Nations is broadly credited with promoting peace and human rights as younger adults are more supportive of cooperation with other countries.

Americans are now more likely to expect foreign election interference than they were in October 2018, when 67% expected it.

Americans are much more likely than Germans to see U.S. bases in Germany as important for their country’s national security.

World War II service members’ numbers have dwindled from around 939,000 veterans in 2015 to about 300,000 in 2020.

Republicans are more negative than Democrats toward China, though unfavorable ratings have climbed among both parties.

Most say cooperation with other countries is important in dealing with global threats, especially on the spread of infectious diseases.

About half say they have seen at least some made-up news about the virus; 29% think it was created in a lab.

Political divides on both sides of the Atlantic continue to shape attitudes about relations with other nations, perceptions about defense spending and Americans’ and Germans’ views of each other.