Századvég: European public firmly opposes military deployments abroad, survey reveals

Amid rising tensions on the global stage, the voices of European citizens have resounded clearly: The majority are against sending troops beyond their borders.

A new survey from Századvég’s Europa Project underscores significant reluctance among Europeans to engage militarily outside their countries.

While 59 percent of EU citizens would defend their homeland on their own soil, only 27 percent would consider taking up arms abroad. The sentiment starkly contrasts with European political elites, who have been intensifying their war rhetoric for a while now, especially in recent months. Figures like Charles Michel and Josep Borrell have been vocal about escalating military readiness and intervention, despite the public's preference for peace and diplomacy.

Notably, opposition to deploying national troops in Ukraine is overwhelming. About 69 percent of Europeans disapprove, with support never exceeding the dissent in any EU member state. This is particularly strong in Hungary and Bulgaria, where 91 percent and 86 percent, respectively, oppose such military support for Kyiv.

Such broad-based opposition is not just a statistic; it significantly impacts European discourse on military policy. This prevailing sentiment is reshaping debates around Europe’s role on the world stage. As European leaders chart their course through these turbulent waters, the voice of the populace calls for a focus on diplomacy and fortifying defenses at home rather than expanding military conflicts across borders.

On June 9, the people will let their voices be heard and vote out the pro-war leaders. Europe wants peace, no matter how much the “war hawks” of the Brussels elite want you to believe otherwise.