German voters are deeply concerned about the global ramifications of the massive US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran and the situation in the Middle East, according to the latest ARD Deutschlandtrend survey. Three-quarters of respondents stated they feel threatened by the global situation and are very worried, highlighting the widespread anxiety within German society over escalating international tensions.
The German public has widely rejected the US-Israeli military operation, with six out of ten Germans considering the offensive unjustified. However, this disapproval rate is significantly lower than for previous US-led actions, such as the attacks on Venezuela in January 2026 (72% rejection) and the 2003 Iraq War (80% rejection). Voter attitudes toward the Iran conflict vary sharply along party lines: only 48% of voters for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the conservative CDU/CSU bloc condemn the attack, compared to 82% among voters for parties left of center.
Germans are particularly alarmed by the potential consequences of the conflict, with three-quarters fearing it will spread to other countries and eight out of ten concerned about its impact on global trade. The blocking of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian Revolutionary Guards has already disrupted oil shipments, causing sharp price increases that are directly affecting German consumers at gas stations. Additionally, seven out of ten respondents expressed concern for the humanitarian situation in Iran, while a large majority fear that "might makes right" is prevailing over international law in global conflicts.
Trust in major international powers remains critically low among Germans. Unchanged from January, just 15% consider the United States a reliable partner for Germany, while only 12% view Russia as trustworthy. Israel also faces deep skepticism, with nearly seven out of ten Germans not seeing it as a trustworthy partner. Opinions on Ukraine are divided, with 40% expressing trust and nearly half having doubts. In contrast, France and the United Kingdom are viewed as reliable partners by most respondents.
Concerns about the global situation are fundamentally altering German perceptions of national security threats. At the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, just over half of respondents believed the global situation threatened German security. That figure has now risen to more than three-quarters, indicating a significant shift in public sentiment toward greater vulnerability and instability.
For the German government, the Gulf region crisis represents an additional burden in an already tense domestic and international environment. Germany's economy continues to struggle, while rapid population aging is putting additional pressure on the social welfare system. A prolonged war in Iran could have severe negative impacts on the global economy, with Germany particularly vulnerable to such disruptions. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition government, comprising the CDU/CSU and Social Democrats (SPD), has been in power for ten months but has yet to deliver on promises of improvement, frustrating citizens and contributing to widespread dissatisfaction.
Only conservative party supporters express satisfaction with the government's performance, while overall, three-quarters of Deutschlandtrend respondents are dissatisfied—figures barely better than those of the previous center-left government that collapsed after three years. If a general election were held now, the governing parties would lose their majority, with current polling showing CDU/CSU at 28% (+2), SPD at 14% (-1), AfD at 23% (-1), Greens at 13% (+1), and the Left Party at 9% (-1). No other party would reach the 5% threshold for Bundestag representation, reflecting a fragmented political landscape amid growing public discontent.
Source: www.dw.com