GLOBSEC Trends 2025: Ready for a New Era?

In the face of Russia’s continued aggression and growing global instability, public opinion across CEE is marked by unprecedented strategic clarity. Citizens are not only aware of the threats shaping the region’s security landscape – they are embracing the responsibilities these threats entail. From increased defence spending to voluntary military service and hybrid threat preparedness, public support for action is strong and consistent across countries. This alignment between societal sentiment and security imperatives presents a window of opportunity to turn collective intention into lasting resilience.

Furthermore, public confidence in NATO remains high, as the Alliance continues to be viewed as the bedrock of European security. Crucially, this is not just an abstract or institutional commitment: 78% of CEE respondents would support a collective defence response in the event that Article 5 were triggered by a NATO member, representing an average increase of 5 percentage points over the past two years.

At the same time, respondents broadly affirm democratic values and express support for civil society and independent media – recognising that resilience must also be rooted in strong democratic foundations. While vulnerabilities persist, particularly in the information space, the overall message is clear: most of CEE is not retreating in the face of adversity.

Read more in the full report here.