The perception of the United States among the German public has significantly changed since 2024, as revealed by a representative survey conducted by the Allensbach Institute for the Centre for Strategy and Higher Leadership. In January, when asked which countries pose the greatest threat to world peace in the coming years, nearly two-thirds of respondents (65 percent) named the USA, a dramatic increase from 46 percent when the same question was posed the previous year. Just a year earlier, only about a quarter of the population (24 percent) saw the US as a threat to peace.

While the USA's threat perception has surged, Russian aggression continues to dominate concerns about global peace. Since the onset of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, consistently high percentages—between 75 percent and 82 percent of survey participants—identified Russia as a major threat. This statistic highlights a stark contrast in the perception of these two powerful nations, reflecting the deepening fears surrounding international security dynamics amid ongoing conflicts.

The implications of this shift in public sentiment could have considerable influence on Germany's foreign policy and its stance in international relations. As a notable member of NATO and a key player in the European Union, Germany's views regarding the USA may impact its diplomatic approaches and discussions at platforms such as upcoming security conferences. With the increasing public apprehension towards the USA's role in global affairs, it raises questions about the future of transatlantic relations and collaborative security efforts.