In election years, candidates promise foreign policies that Americans want, but once in office, their actions often leave voters thinking, “I didn’t vote.” To understand where America stands on major US foreign policy issues—from Israel-Hamas, Russia-Ukraine, and Taiwan-China to climate change and maintaining America’s military superiority—this article looks at research from several top think tanks and Pew Research.
It’s no surprise that America’s foreign policy priorities are shaped by party affiliation, age, race, and demographics.
As different demographics prioritize different foreign policy goals, overall support for continued aid to Ukraine has declined, leading to a decline in support for other international allies and US involvement in world affairs. According to Pew Research, 83% of Americans believe that the president should prioritize domestic policy, with only 14% choosing to focus on foreign policy.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and Israel and Hamas, has deepened the partisan and demographic divide in American public opinion. Republicans increasingly oppose aid to Kyiv, while most Democrats continue to support it. The division has made it difficult to pass a new national security aid package in Congress, with hardline Republicans rejecting Ukraine funding and progressive Democrats opposing unconditional military aid to Israel. Speaker Mike Johnson funded both conflicts despite the party’s wishes. Beyond Washington, this disagreement has spilled over to college campuses, dinner tables, and social media, making it the most tumultuous election year yet.
Pew Research found that 75% of respondents see the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as tensions between China and Taiwan, as important to the US national interest. Additionally, 31% of Americans prioritize supporting Israel, while 27% feel the same way about Ukraine. More than half (53%) believe maintaining U.S. military advantage is important, and about half also prioritize limiting the power and influence of Russia and China, which reflects priorities in the U.S. Intelligence Community’s Annual Threat Assessment.
Fewer Americans see global climate change (44%) and asking other countries to share the costs of maintaining world order (42%) as top priorities, with a clear partisan divide. While 70% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents see climate change as a major concern, only 15% of Republicans agree. Conversely, 54% of Republicans would prefer that other states shoulder more of the burden, compared to just 33% of Democrats.
Pew Research found that 75% of respondents think the China-Taiwan conflict is important to the US national interest. However, Defense Priorities research shows that only 30% believe the US should defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion because of the potential costs. A larger group (44%) agreed that avoiding war with China is more important than Taiwan’s political autonomy. Additionally, 66% think the US should require Taiwan to invest more in its own defense before committing to such protection.
According to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, most racial, ethnic, and generational groups support sending aid to Ukraine, but support is lower among Black Americans, Hispanics, Millennials, and Gen Z. These groups are also less willing to bear the higher cost of living for Ukraine to seize its territory, preferring the US to encourage Kyiv to seek peace. In contrast, Asian, Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AAPI), White, Silent Generation, and Baby Boomer Americans are more likely to believe that the US investment in arms transfers to Ukraine is worthwhile.
Defense Priorities found that 80% of respondents believe that US aid to Ukraine should be conditional, reduced, or cut altogether. More than half (52%) doubt that Ukraine can win the war against Russia. A significant proportion (42%) expect the war to end through negotiations or a cease-fire, while 26% believe the war will continue with trench warfare that will never officially end. Nearly half (47%) agree that the US should not allow Ukraine to attack Russian territory with US weapons, for fear of escalating the conflict and risking a direct NATO-Russia confrontation.
Seventy-five percent of Pew Research respondents see the conflict between Israel and Hamas as important to the US national interest. However, most Americans of all racial groups would prefer that the United States remain neutral in the Middle East conflict. Black and Generation Z Americans tend to support Palestine, believing that Israel has gone too far. While other racial and ethnic groups lean toward Israel, White Americans are divided on Israel’s actions, and older Americans are more likely to support Israel’s right to defend itself. Most Americans, with the exception of those from the Silent Generation, think that the US should put pressure on Israel to continue military operations in Gaza, either by reducing military aid or through diplomatic means.
Defense Priorities found that 47% of respondents believed the US should use its influence to prevent Israel from expanding the conflict into Lebanon by fighting Hezbollah, more than twice the 20% who disagreed. Additionally, 81% of respondents oppose committing US troops to defend Saudi Arabia.
