US voter support for NATO may be stronger than assumed

Significance The US commitment to NATO has become a significant presidential election issue, one mentioned repeatedly by Biden in a widely watched interview on July 5. Support for the organisation is increasingly split along partisan lines, which is a major concern for other NATO members who hope that the July 9-11 summit underlines the organisation’s importance for US voters. Impacts Another faltering performance from Biden at the summit would increase doubts over his fitness for November’s presidential election. UK and French leaders will also be watched closely following domestic political changes with the potential to impact NATO commitments. Russia and China will follow the summit carefully for any indications of policy shifts or possible disunity.