A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center across 13 NATO member nations reveals a median of 60% of people holding a favorable view of the Western military alliance. This finding comes as NATO prepares for its summit in Washington D.C. from July 9-11, a crucial gathering amidst a challenging period for the 75-year-old alliance. NATO members are actively revising their long-term plans and strategies in response to a more assertive Russian President Vladimir Putin and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The need for sustained support for Ukraine against the invading Russian forces has become a central focus for the alliance.
Adding to these complexities is the upcoming presidential reelection bid of Donald Trump, who has expressed critical views of NATO allies and admiration for Putin. This has raised concerns among some NATO members about the future commitment of the alliance’s most powerful military and economy.
Support for NATO varied significantly across the surveyed nations. Poland, a neighbor of Russia, displayed the highest level of support at 91%. The Netherlands and Sweden, another neighbor of Russia, followed closely with 75% and 72% respectively. Sweden, a newly joined member of the alliance, formally joined this year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Greece, on the other hand, showed the lowest level of support at 37%, with 59% of adults expressing an unfavorable view of the alliance. This lower level of support is attributed to Greece’s historical religious and cultural ties with Russia.
Other nations surveyed showed varying levels of support. Canada reported 63%, Britain 66%, Germany 64%, Hungary 63%, Italy 60%, France 54%, Spain 45%, and Turkey 42%. Notably, Turkey’s support for NATO nearly doubled since a similar survey in 2019.
Pew Research Center previously released results for the United States, showing 58% support for NATO. The survey was conducted between early January and mid-May.
