Pew Survey on US Views of Ukraine Aid and NATO
Why in the news
A day after the tense Oval Office exchange between Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pro-Ukraine protests took place in many US cities. A Pew Research Center survey also showed a widening partisan gap on Ukraine aid and NATO.
Key facts
- Too much aid: 30% (27% just before the November elections).
- Not enough aid: 22%, up 4 points since the elections.
- Right amount: 23%, a view losing ground across parties.
- Party split: 50% of Republicans but under 15% of Democrats say aid is excessive.
- National security: 39% say Ukraine aid helps US security; 27% say it has no effect.
| Indicator | Earlier | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Americans saying NATO helps the US | 66% (2024) | 63% |
| Want Europe to spend more on defence | 47% (2024) | 39% |
| Democrats backing NATO membership | – | 82% |
| Republicans backing NATO membership | – | 47% |
Partisan divide
- Democrats saying aid is “just right” fell by 12 points; Republicans by only 3 points.
- Democrats, especially those aged 65 and above, see aid as good for US security.
- Republicans, particularly younger ones, are more likely to say it harms security.
- Most Republicans now feel the US gains little or nothing from NATO.
Significance
- The deepening divide could make US foreign policy harder to shape.
- The Trump administration’s shifting priorities keep America’s role in security alliances contested.
Exam angle
- Survey by: Pew Research Center.
- Persons in the news: Trump, Vance, Zelenskyy.
- Organisation: NATO.