Many Europeans Support Increased National Defense Spending — But How Durable Is That Support?

Many European countries are pursuing increased defense spending due to the war in Ukraine and pressure from the United States on NATO members. There is currently growing public support for these measures, which national governments can leverage to devote more resources to defense. However, the durability of this public support over the long term remains a key question. Sustaining the consistent, multi-year spending needed for strong defense capabilities will require cutting other programs or raising taxes, which depends on maintaining public approval.