<h6><strong>Julio García</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Three out of four Spaniards are in favor of the European Union (EU) increasing its own defense capacity, according to the latest barometer from the Center for Sociological Research (CIS).</strong></h4> Furthermore, the possibility of the EU promoting its own common army gains support from more than half of those surveyed. Specifically, 75% of those surveyed believe that Europe should pursue a rearmament policy as proposed by the current President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, compared to 19.2% who are against it. In fact, according to the March barometer, in the midst of the controversy over increased spending on security and defense, half of Spaniards believe that Europe currently does not have sufficient defensive capacity against possible aggression from other countries. However, 31.2% believe that it does. Likewise, regarding the possibility of the European institutions promoting a common army for the 27 states, 67.8% of respondents support this idea, while 24.1% oppose it. <h5><strong>Left-wing Voters</strong></h5> Analyzing these data based on their votes in the July 2023 general elections, the majority of voters for PSOE partners—who are the most opposed to increased defense spending in Spain—are in favor of European rearmament and a common army. Only among Bildu voters is there a majority rejection of increased defense capabilities (64.5%) and a European army (69.7%). Analyzing by party, 90.6% of PP voters are in favor of increasing defense spending, followed by Vox (79.5%); PSOE (76.3%); PNV (76.2%); ERC (61.2%); Junts (58.3%) and Sumar, including Podemos (52.3%). Regarding the possibility of creating an army among the 27 EU countries, PNV voters are the most supportive of this idea (86.4%), followed by the Socialists (76.2%); the People’s Party (75.7%); Junts (71%); ERC (70.2%); Sumar-Podemos (60.8%), and Vox (60.7%). The Center for Sociological Research also wanted to focus on the international geopolitical landscape. Specifically, on the presidency of US President Donald Trump and the ongoing conflicts between Israel and Gaza and Russia and Ukraine. <h5><strong>Trump</strong></h5> According to the survey, 77.2% of respondents believe that with Trump's presence in the White House, relations between the EU and the United States will change, compared to 11.8% who believe they will remain as they were. Furthermore, the majority agree that this change will be bad or very bad for both the US (48.6%) and the European Union (62.1%). Only 11% of respondents believe the change will be positive or very positive for the EU, and 20.9% think the same for the United States. Related to this issue, the CIS also asks about the war between Russia and Ukraine, which worries 65.9% of Spaniards a lot or quite a lot, compared to 18.9% who are slightly or not at all concerned about this conflict. This concern is very similar to that of respondents regarding the war between Israel and Palestine, which, according to the March barometer, worries 60.4% of Spaniards a lot or quite a lot, compared to 20.1% who are slightly or not at all concerned. The CIS released this data three days before the next meeting of the Council of Europe on March 20 and 21, where one of the central topics to be discussed will be increased investment in defense and security. On the occasion of this meeting, the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, sent a letter of invitation to the Council members in which he stated that "in our continued support for Ukraine, the need to invest in our defense and our competitiveness are closely intertwined." "A more competitive Union will be a stronger Union, better able to protect its citizens, its interests, and its values on the global stage," Costa stated, beginning the letter by emphasizing that the central theme of this meeting will be competitiveness.
