NATO giant Or paper tiger: Can EU’s 'weak link' stop a Russian attack if 70% don’t trust the army?

A new survey suggests that most Germans are not confident their military could defend the country against a potential attack, even as Berlin accelerates its largest defense build-up in decades. The findings come amid ongoing security concerns linked to the Russia-Ukraine war and Germany’s plans to expand its armed forces and defense spending. At the same time, protests in Munich targeted Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with demonstrators criticizing higher military spending and continued support for Ukraine. The debate highlights growing divisions in Germany over national security, defense priorities, and the economic costs of rearmament.