Americans want to remain close to Europe, but Germans want more foreign policy independence from U.S.

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March 1, 2019

Americans and Germans Disagree on the State of Bilateral Relations, but Largely Align on Key International Issues

Americans want to remain close to Europe, but Germans want more foreign policy independence from U.S.

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Americans want to remain close to Europe, but Germans want more foreign policy independence from U.S.

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Americans and Germans Disagree on the State of Bilateral Relations, but Largely Align on Key International Issues
Americans and Germans diverge sharply in their views of bilateral relations
Germans want fewer immigrants in their country, while Americans want to keep levels the same
Americans are divided on initial tariffs for German products, but Germans strongly favor retaliatory tariffs
Germans, Americans share positive views of trade, as well as doubts about benefits
Pessimism about children’s future is widespread in U.S. and Germany
Americans and Germans worry about the financial situation of average people
More positive views of the U.S. and confidence in Trump among AfD supporters
Negative ratings for Trump and U.S. in Germany
Germans prefer U.S. as world leader
Americans say the U.S. is the world’s leading economy, but Germans think China is
Germans and Americans express diminishing confidence in U.S. government’s treatment of rights
Germans and Americans both skeptical of China’s commitment to personal freedoms; Germans also doubt U.S. commitment to civil liberties
Germans previously viewed China less favorably than Americans did, but attitudes have converged of late
Germans and Americans have low opinions of Russia
Americans and Germans have similar concerns about global threats
Germans increasingly want to spend more on defense, even as fewer Americans see a need for European allies to enlarge defense budgets
Both U.S. and Germany are positive toward NATO
Germans agree that France and U.S. are top foreign policy partners
Partisan differences in the U.S. on top foreign policy partners
Germans are about four times as likely as Americans to view the other country as an important partner for foreign policy
Democrats want more cooperation with other countries than Republicans do, except on Russia
Americans want more cooperation with European allies – including Germany – but Germans are less likely to want cooperation with the U.S.
Republicans and Democrats have differing views on relations with Germany and Angela Merkel
Americans and Germans have similar views on international, economic issues

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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

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