The transatlantic relationship has faced numerous questions about the United States' commitment to NATO. Sharp rhetoric has raised doubts about the future of the alliance, with some questioning whether America will remain committed to its European partners.
A nationwide U.S. public opinion poll conducted in the weeks leading up to the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara reveals a broad and resilient base of support for the alliance among the American people. The survey suggests that NATO's demise in American politics is greatly exaggerated, with 73% of Americans believing that keeping the United States in NATO matters to America's security and prosperity.
This includes a majority of both Democrats and Republicans, as well as 61% of self-identified MAGA Republicans. It also highlights a significant level of support for the collective defense principle, with 72% of Americans saying they would support the United States responding with military force if a NATO ally was attacked.
Among MAGA Republicans, 69% support this core Article 5 commitment, indicating that Americans understand the importance of NATO in advancing American interests and deterring adversaries. The survey also highlights a reality that European leaders should not ignore: support for NATO is not uniform across the American political landscape.
While 55% of Americans oppose withdrawing the United States from the alliance, among MAGA Republicans, 63% support U.S. withdrawal from NATO. This paradox suggests that Americans who are skeptical of NATO nevertheless support the practical outcomes the alliance delivers.
They view NATO as important to U.S. security, support defending allies under attack, but have real questions about the institution itself and continued U.S. participation. This raises questions about the future of America's commitment to NATO and whether continued U.S. support will depend less on abstract arguments and more on tangible evidence that the alliance is prepared to meet today's challenges.
The alliance has entered a new phase, with every NATO ally meeting the Wales Summit guideline of spending 2% of GDP on defense. The historic goal of 5% of GDP from last summer's NATO Summit in The Hague reflects a recognition that the security environment has fundamentally changed.
The significance of this commitment extends beyond defense planning, becoming a political test of NATO's credibility in the United States. Americans are judging NATO by its performance, rather than its founding principles or strategic concepts.
The NATO Summit in Ankara will be a testing ground for this question, and allies have demonstrated measurable progress toward the commitments they made in The Hague in 2025. Total defense and security spending has already reached around 4% of GDP, just a year later.
Defense investment, modernization, and industrial base growth will directly benefit the security and economies of European countries, not just the United States. The strongest argument for keeping America in NATO is not rhetoric, but results.
If European allies continue to strengthen their defense capabilities and make tangible progress toward the transatlantic burden shift, they will reinforce the case that NATO remains indispensable to American security and prosperity. This may be the most important investment the alliance can make in an era of political uncertainty on both sides of the Atlantic.
