NATO criticism has receded and support increased across Europe. A March 20, 2022 YouGov survey reported by the Economist shows a sharp increase in support for NATO compared to March 2019. In 2019, during the Trump administration, NATO was frequently the target of his criticism as a financial burden of questionable worth protecting freeloading countries. Europeans also expressed some concern, and President Macron, never a big advocate, declared NATO experiencing “brain death” in terms of its purpose. He has shifted his position recently.
NATO support in France, although lower than other European countries (47%), grew from 39 percent to 47 percent in the last 2 years (2020-21). Germany’s government has also changed its position on military spending. The German public at 64 percent support for NATO gained 30 points since 2019. Another German poll just conducted showed 53 percent of the public support Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s increase of $110 billion for defense and NATO spending goal of 2 percent of GDP.
The Russian invasion has focused public opinion on security and NATO has been the winner.
Read The Buzz: U.S. Unity on Russia as Threat. Divisions on NATO.
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