A recent Politico survey reveals that citizens in the US, UK, and EU perceive a third world war as a real possibility within the next five years, yet show reluctance to financially support defense efforts against this potential threat.
A survey by Politico indicates that citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, and EU countries consider the outbreak of a third world war a highly plausible scenario within the next five years. Despite this alarming perspective, the survey highlights a notable reluctance among Western societies to make financial sacrifices or increase taxes to bolster their defense capabilities. This contradiction illustrates a significant divide between public sentiment regarding the urgency of global threats and the willingness to invest in security measures that could mitigate those threats.
The survey results show a dramatic shift in public opinion about global conflict, with a marked increase in the percentage of the populace fearing a new major conflict since a similar question was posed by Public First in March 2025. According to Seb Reid, the head of surveys at Public First, the shift in sentiment reflects a rapid transition to a more insecure world where war is deemed likely and alliances are viewed as unstable. Despite these fears, citizens express a desire for security without the accompanying burden of increased expenses, highlighting a challenging paradox for policymakers who must navigate these complex attitudes.
The findings from this survey raise important implications for defense policies in the West, as they reveal a constrained readiness among populations to support necessary financial commitments for national and collective security. As fears of conflict grow, the challenge remains for governments to convince their citizens of the importance of investing in defense, potentially requiring a reevaluation of how security and financial responsibility are communicated to the public.
