A recent poll reveals that a substantial majority of Americans continue to view the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as crucial for U.S. security and prosperity, despite past criticisms from former President Donald Trump. The Reagan Institute Summer Survey found that 73 percent of Americans believe maintaining U.S. membership in NATO is important for national security and economic well-being. This sentiment is shared across a majority of both Democratic and Republican party affiliations.
The survey also highlighted strong support for NATO's core principle of collective defense, with 72 percent of Americans indicating they would back U.S. military intervention if a NATO ally were attacked. This support extends to a significant portion of self-identified MAGA Republicans, with 69 percent backing the alliance's Article 5 commitment.
These findings suggest that many Americans understand NATO as a strategic alliance that advances U.S. interests by deterring adversaries and preventing the United States from facing global threats in isolation. The poll was conducted in the weeks preceding the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara.
However, the survey also pointed to a division in American public opinion regarding the alliance. While 55 percent of Americans oppose withdrawing the U.S. from NATO, 63 percent of MAGA Republicans support such a withdrawal. This indicates a paradox where many who are skeptical of the institution itself still value its practical outcomes.
The results suggest that future U.S. support for NATO may hinge less on abstract notions of transatlantic solidarity and more on tangible evidence of the alliance's ability to adapt to evolving security threats and increase defense spending among its European members.
American policymakers have long urged European allies to assume a greater share of responsibility for transatlantic security and boost their own defense expenditures. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has accelerated this trend, leading to increased defense investments, particularly in Eastern Europe. Currently, every NATO ally is meeting the guideline of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense, and the goal of 5 percent of GDP set at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague reflects a changed security environment.
This commitment to increased defense spending has become a key metric for NATO's credibility in the United States. Americans, especially those skeptical of alliances, are reportedly judging NATO by its performance and tangible investments in military readiness, modernized capabilities, and industrial capacity.
Progress toward the commitments made in The Hague is being observed, with total defense and security spending reaching approximately 4 percent of GDP a year later. Early indicators suggest accelerated procurement, force modernization, and strengthened defense industrial production. These investments are seen not just as a response to political pressure but as essential for the long-term health of the alliance, benefiting European security and economies directly.
The Reagan Institute, where Rachel Hoff serves as Policy Director, has noted that a move from "unhealthy co-dependence to a transatlantic alliance grounded in true partnership" is underway. The most compelling argument for continued U.S. involvement in NATO, according to the institute, lies in tangible results. If European allies continue to demonstrate progress in strengthening their defense capabilities and shifting the burden, they will reinforce NATO's indispensability to American security and prosperity.