A majority of Germans believe that Europe can provide for its own security even without the assistance of the US, according to a poll released on Monday.
Drawn up by Berlin-based pollsters Forsa for German television stations RTL and N-TV, the survey found 56 per cent of Germans are convinced that Europe's defence capabilities mean that it is militarily self-sufficient.
However, the Forsa poll also found that only 37 per cent of Germans believe Europe is reliant on US military support.
The survey's release comes in the wake of attacks by US President Donald Trump on several European states, in particular Germany, for what he says is their failure to share the burden of responsibility in the Washington-led NATO military alliance.
The survey also found that 84 per cent of Germans rejected Trump's claim that Berlin was controlled by Moscow as a result of its natural gas imports from Russia as "absolutely groundless."
Only 10 per cent believe that Russia has taken control of Germany through its energy policy, according to the poll.
However, 28 per cent of the supporters of Germany's right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) back the US president's comments on Russian imports.
