The massive airstrikes by the US and Israel on Iran and the bitter resistance of the Iranian regime have plunged the Middle East into a state of emergency. According to the latest ARD Deutschlandtrend survey, three-quarters of Germans feel threatened by the global situation and are very concerned.

In Germany, the US-Israeli military operation has been met with widespread rejection. Six out of 10 Germans don't consider the offensive justified. However, this is significantly less than was the case with the US attacks on Venezuela in January 2026 and on Iraq in 2003.

Seventy-two percent of Germans rejected the attack on Venezuela, and 80% considered the 2003 Iraq War unjustified, according to the Deutschlandtrend poll, for which the pollster infratest-dimap surveyed 1,317 eligible German voters between March 2 and 4.

Left-leaning German voters strongly oppose the war

Voters' attitudes toward the war in Iran differ according to their party affiliations: Only 48% of voters for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the conservative bloc of Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) condemn the attack. However, among voters for parties to the left of center, the figure is as high as 82%. 

Germans are very concerned about the consequences of the conflict: Three-quarters of those surveyed fear that the hostilities will spread to other countries. Eight out of 10 are concerned about the impact of the Middle East war on global trade. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has blocked passage through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, leaving numerous oil tankers stuck. The price of oil has risen sharply, which is hitting Germans at the gas stations.

In the Deutschlandtrend survey, however, seven out of 10 respondents also expressed concern about the situation of the people in Iran.  A large majority of citizens fear that, given the many military conflicts worldwide, "might is right" is prevailing over international law.

Who is a good partner for Germany?

Germans' trust in major international powers, especially the US and Russia, remains low: Unchanged from January, just 15% consider the US to be a reliable partner for Germany, while only 12% see Russia as trustworthy.

Israel also continues to be viewed with skepticism by the majority of Germans: Just under seven out of ten don't see Israel as a trustworthy partner for Germany. Opinions on Ukraine remain divided: Four out of ten trust the country, while just under half have doubts about its trustworthiness. France and the UK, on the other hand, are considered reliable partners by most people.

Concern about the global situation is also changing perceptions of the threat to Germany itself: At the start of Russia's full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, just over half of respondents said the global situation was a threat to German security. Currently, more than three-quarters of respondents are of this view.

German government is also concerned

For the German government, the situation in the Gulf region is an additional burden in an already tense situation. Germany is not doing well economically. The population is aging rapidly, which is putting additional pressure on the social welfare system. If the war in Iran continues for a long time, it could have a very negative impact on the global economy. Germany would also feel the effects of this.

The coalition government, made up of the CDU/CSU and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) has been in office for ten months. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) promised the German people that many things would change for the better under his government. But an upswing has yet to materialize. This is frustrating citizens.

Only conservative party supporters are satisfied with the government's work. Overall, three-quarters of those surveyed in the Deutschlandtrend poll are dissatisfied. These figures are hardly better than those of the previous center-left government, which fell apart after three years in office.

No majority for CDU/CSU and SPD in a new election

If a general election were held now, the governing parties would no longer have a majority. The CDU/CSU currently stands at 28% (+2). The SPD is one point down at 14%. The AfD stands at 23% (-1), the Greens at 13% (+1). The socialist Left Party stands at 9% (-1). No other party would be able to pass the 5% threshold for representation in the Bundestag.

This article was originally written in German.

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