Germany is losing assurance in these countries. The list included the United States

Which countries are reliable partners for Germany? How do citizens justice Chancellor Friedrich Merz? ARD Deutschlandtrend answers these and another questions.


How do you prepare to meet US president Donald Trump? all head of state and government had to ask himself this question since Trump publically humiliated the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski and the head of the South African state Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz did not receive any repost training before visiting Trump, as stressed by government spokesperson Stefan Cornelius. The Chancellor travels to Washington peacefully, besides due to the fact that Germany, as the world's 3rd largest economy, has something to offer.

Much more on Defense

One of the things Friedrich Merz brings with him is the plan to make the Bundeswehr "conventionally strongest army in Europe". The president of the United States likes it just as much as the announcement that all NATO countries will gotta invest 5 percent of their economical power in defence in the foreseeable future. However, only half of the German people who are asked to do so consider it appropriate. For 1 3rd of citizens, the mark of 5 percent is besides far-reaching.

This is the consequence of the latest ARD Deutschlandtrend poll, in which the infratest dimap examined a typical example of 1292 Germans entitled to vote in early June.

Surveyors besides asked about the expectations of German citizens regarding the gathering of Donald Trump and Friedrich Merz in the White House. Only little than 1 in 2 people believe that the German Chancellor will find a common language with the president of the United States. The second half is of the opinion that Merz has besides small diplomatic skills to meet the challenges of abroad policy in his fresh position.

Which countries can we trust?

Close relations with the US and Israel are part of the image of German politics. At the same time, the distance has increased significantly, besides from the voters' perspective. France and Ukraine are now seen as far more trustworthy partners.

84 percent of the Germans think Russia can no longer be trusted. 73 percent say the same thing about the US. Israel is besides weak in the eyes of the vast majority of respondents. Only 16 percent, eleven percent little than in October 2024, inactive sees Israel as the partner Germany can trust.

Israel’s Clear Criticism

Israel's military consequence to the terrorist attacks of Islamist Hamas in the fall of 2023 has imprinted its mark. 63 percent of the Germans consider the Israeli consequence in the Gaza Strip besides far-reaching, while only 18 percent consider it appropriate.

77 percent of the respondents believe that Chancellor Merz rightly criticized Israel for its current military activities in the Gaza Strip. Only 1 in 8 respondents believes that Germany should unconditionally support Israel in the mediate East conflict. At the same time, half of the respondents presently find it hard to recognise Germany's circumstantial work to defend Israel.

Almost as many Germans now blame Israel for the situation of the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip as Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by many countries. Consequently, the majority are in favour of reconsidering German military aid: 4 out of 10 respondents are in favour of limiting arms exports to Israel and another 30 percent are in favour of stopping it altogether.

From October 2023 to May 2025. Germany has agreed to export arms worth just under half a billion euros. This is how the German government wrote in consequence to the question of the Left organization parliamentary group in the Bundestag. Deliveries included firearms, ammunition, weapon parts, peculiar equipment for the military and naval, electronic equipment and peculiar armored vehicles.

The fresh Government Gains Support

The fresh government of CDU/CSU and SPD has held power since May. 40 percent are pleased with the first weeks of the coalition's rule. At the beginning of 2022, this figure was somewhat higher for the SPD, Greens and FDP coalitions, of 46 percent.

How much do the Germans trust in the fresh government? In terms of the content of the statements, they are not importantly different from what the pollers stated immediately after the early parliamentary elections.

Half of citizens trust that the fresh government squad will strengthen the German economy (55 percent; +1) and will better represent German interests worldwide (52 percent; +1). The scepticism about creating safe conditions in Germany (43 percent; -4) and effective migration policy (38 percent; -4) is greater and has besides increased slightly. There are besides increasing doubts whether the CDU/CSU can warrant social safety in Germany (37 percent; -6).

CDU/CSU increases advantage over AfD

Friedrich Merz (CDU) has become much more popular since taking office as Chancellor. 39 percent are pleased with his political work, compared to 14 percent little in April. The Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) besides enjoys 39 percent support.

The same applies to almost all leading German politicians: most Germans are dissatisfied with their work. The only exception is defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD). He enjoys 61 percent support.

Is this an increase in the popularity of Chancellor Friedrich Merz? If the Bundestag were re-elected next Sunday, the CDU/CSU would get a better score with 29 percent (+2) than in the Bundestag election in February. The SPD, which is in the CDU/CSU coalition, would lose somewhat and would gain 15 percent (-1).

AfD, which is partially far-right, would stay unchanged with 23 percent (+/-0) of the vote. Greens and Lefts can number on 12 (+1) and 9 percent (-1) respectively. All another parties would not have a chance to enter the Bundestag, including the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) and the FDP with unchanged 4 percent each.

Written by Sabine Kinkartz