An internal NATO survey obtained by Politico found that only 43% of U.S. adults believe the alliance would support the United States if it came under attack.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Many Americans doubt that NATO allies would come to the defense of the United States if the country were attacked, according to an internal alliance poll obtained by Politico.

The survey found that 43% of U.S. adults believe NATO would support the United States in the event of an attack, according to the poll conducted by NATO and obtained by Politico.

Across all NATO member countries, 57% of respondents said they believed the alliance would help their own country if it were attacked.

The findings come as President Donald Trump prepares to attend the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara. The poll results could add tension to the gathering as the United States continues to press European allies to take on a larger share of their own defense costs.

During both of Trump’s terms, Washington has increasingly questioned the value of continued U.S. participation in NATO while urging European partners to boost defense spending. Those demands have contributed to strains among members of the alliance.

NATO’s Article V collective-defense provision has been invoked only once in the alliance’s history. It was triggered after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States.

The poll suggests that skepticism toward NATO’s willingness to defend the United States remains significant among Americans, even though the alliance’s collective-defense framework was most notably used in response to an attack on the U.S.

The results may shape the political backdrop for the Ankara summit, where Trump is expected to press NATO members on defense commitments and burden sharing.