US President Donald Trump’s policies and their global ramifications are the thing that scares the people of Germany more than anything else, according to an annual survey.

About 69% of the Germans, i.e. more than two-thirds, are extremely concerned Trump’s policies are having a dangerous impact worldwide, according to “The Fears of Germans” survey conducted by the R+V Infocenter.

The annual poll has cataloged the fears of Germany’s population since 1992. The Germans’ fear of Trump has recorded one of the highest percentages ever in the survey. It has surpassed fear of refugees and the integration of migrants.

“Trump’s ruthless ‘America First’ politics, his aggression with regards to international arrangements and his equally aggressive trade and security politics, even towards allied countries, scare the majority of the population,” said Manfred G. Schmidt, a professor at the Ruprecht-Karls-University in Heidelberg and a consultant for R+V Infocenter, as cited by DW.

In addition to many of Trump’s comments and actions that have been found perplexing by many in the West, the US President has been singling out Germany, and lashing out against its trade surplus, the world’s biggest, as well as its failure to spend more on defense as a member of NATO, and for its energy dependence on Russia.

Trump’s critical rhetoric has subsided since he and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker reached an agreement to avoid a US – EU trade war that has been received cautiously in Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has acknowledged that German – American friendship is under pressure because of Trump’s tirades.

While Trump stands out as the Germans’ biggest fear in the annual poll of the R+V Infocenter, refugees and integration of migrants remain a close second and third.

About 63% of the Germans think Germany’s government is unable to cope with the influx of refugees and asylum seekers, and also 63% fear that the presence of more migrants will spark greater tensions in the country. On both counts, the percentages are higher than they were in 2017.

A total of 60% of the Germans fear their politicians are not capable enough for the offices they hold, 58% fear terrorist attacks, and again 58% are afraid of the impact of the Eurozone’s debt crisis. 48% of the Germans fear climate change.

The survey commissioned by insurance firm R+V Versicherungen included around 2,400 respondents across Germany, and was conducted between June 8 and July 18, 2018.

(Banner image: Flickr)