A new Avangarde poll shows that Romanians remain cautious but increasingly aware of security risks, with more than a third supporting a major boost in defense spending and many fearing the possibility of Russian aggression against their country.

According to the survey, conducted between September 8–14, 2025 on a representative sample of 1,000 respondents using CATI (telephone interviews) methodology, 51% of Romanians say they are satisfied with President Nicușor Dan’s foreign policy performance during the first months of his term. Only 6% expressed dissatisfaction, while 43% either did not know or refused to answer. A similar level of approval was reported for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Oana Țoiu, with 11% expressing disapproval and 38% abstaining from response.

When it comes to international figures, Romanians tend to place their trust in Western leaders: former U.S. president Donald Trump enjoys a 44% trust rating, followed by French President Emmanuel Macron (40%) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (39%). Moldova’s President Maia Sandu is viewed positively by 44% of respondents. Trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin remains low at 18%, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fares significantly better with 37%.

Confidence in international organizations is particularly strong. NATO is trusted by 74% of Romanians, making it the most highly regarded institution, followed by the United Nations (61%). Both the European Commission and the European Parliament register 57% trust. By contrast, BRICS—the economic bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—earns the confidence of only 27% of respondents.

The survey also shows that nearly half of Romanians (46%) support the idea of unification with the Republic of Moldova at some point in the future, while only 5% oppose it. The remaining 47% did not express an opinion.

On the war in Ukraine, public opinion is divided: 37% say Romania should avoid involvement entirely, except perhaps for humanitarian assistance, 33% believe Romania should take a more active role, and 26% feel the country is already contributing sufficiently.

One of the poll’s most striking findings concerns defense spending. Thirty-eight percent of respondents agree that Romania should allocate 5% of GDP to defense and armament—well above the current NATO commitment level of 2%—while just 5% oppose such a measure. A majority, however, remain undecided or unwilling to answer.

Security concerns are also apparent when Romanians are asked about the risk of war spilling over into their territory. Forty-three percent believe it is possible that Russia could attack Romania in the future, while only 10% reject this scenario outright. The remaining 47% did not offer an assessment.

The poll also explored opinions on the conflict in Gaza. Thirty-eight percent of Romanians said Israel is in the right, 11% sided with Palestine, and 41% said neither party was right.

When asked which country they consider Romania’s closest ally, respondents most frequently named the Republic of Moldova (13%), followed by France (11%). The United States and Germany tied at 5%, with smaller percentages mentioning Italy, Bulgaria, Serbia, Spain, China, and—at just 1%—Russia.

The findings suggest that while Romanians remain divided over how far their country should go in supporting Ukraine, there is a clear appetite for strengthening national security and deepening Western alliances, particularly through NATO. The widespread perception that Russia could one day target Romania highlights a growing sense of vulnerability on NATO’s eastern flank.