Continue to be part of NATO
NATO is a collective defense alliance where members agree to defend each other. Members agreed to spend 2% of GDP on defense; many European members have not met this. The US spends significantly more on defense than any European ally. There is debate about whether the US should condition its NATO commitment on allies meeting their defense spending targets.
Arguments For & Against
Pro Argument
NATO has maintained peace in Europe for 75 years. Weakening US commitment to NATO would embolden Russia and undermine the rules-based international order that has benefited American security and prosperity. We must stand firm with our allies.
Con Argument
European NATO members must take greater responsibility for their own defense. The US spends far more than its share while Europe spends far less. We should condition our security commitments on European nations meeting their 2% defense spending obligations.
Source document: Intl-Security-Questionnaire-National.pdf
| Type | Organization | Date | Nat | Rep | Dem | Gap | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New PPC Survey (2026) | Program for Public Consultation | February 2026 | 83% | 79% | 89% | 10% | favor |
| Deliberative Survey | Program for Public Consultation | August 2024 | 78% | 70% | 87% | 17% | favor |
Program for Public Consultation — February 2026
The US continuing to be part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance, which includes Canada and the nations of Europe, and commits each nation to help defend the other members if they are attacked.
Program for Public Consultation — August 2024
Do you favor or oppose the U.S. continuing to be part of the NATO military alliance?
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