NATO at 70: Is the USA still in it for the long haul?

Abstract

The election of Donald Trump as president of the USA has raised questions about America’s commitment to the alliance given his ongoing criticisms of allies, particularly regarding their defense spending. On the other hand, support for the alliance remains strong throughout the bureaucracy, in Congress, and among the public. Two trends, however, cast doubt on the robustness of US support of NATO. One is Trump’s assault on the post-World War II order by championing hyper-nationalism and economic protectionism. The other is the deepening partisan divide emerging in US public opinion data on favorable views of NATO shaped by presidential rhetoric.