American views of NATO are becoming increasingly partisan, with a recent survey by the Pew Research Center showing a widening political divide on the military alliance. The survey, conducted from April 1 to April 7 and reaching 3,600 U.S. adults, revealed that 58% of respondents have a positive opinion of NATO, a drop of 4 percentage points since 2023. Additionally, fewer Americans believe NATO’s influence is growing, with only 23% seeing it as stronger compared to 34% in the previous year.
The survey also highlighted the partisan split on NATO, with only 43% of Republicans and GOP-leaning adults viewing the alliance favorably, down from 49% in 2023. In contrast, three-quarters of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents hold favorable views of NATO. This divide has been exacerbated by former President Donald Trump’s controversial comments about NATO, suggesting that the U.S. may not come to the defense of allies who do not meet their defense spending commitments.
The survey also found conflicting views on allies’ defense spending, with 47% of respondents saying European allies should increase their spending on national defense. Republicans were more likely than Democrats to support increased defense spending by European allies.
Overall, the survey revealed complex views on NATO, the Russia-Ukraine war, and U.S. support for Ukraine. Confidence in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has decreased, while American confidence in Russian President Vladimir Putin remains low. The findings suggest that American attitudes towards international alliances and conflicts are increasingly influenced by partisan politics.