2023 Reagan National Defense Survey

For five years, the Reagan National Defense Survey has gauged Americans' perspectives on key issues in defense, national security, and foreign policy. This survey has consistently found that Americans believe the United States should be engaged abroad and exercise strong leadership in the world. They support an active U.S. role across different domains of international affairs, from a strong military to trade and economics to defending human rights and advancing freedom. There has been particularly consistent support for maintaining U.S. military bases overseas and increasing defense spending.

This year's survey reveals concerns that congressional budget cuts will lead to reduced military capabilities and support for increasing military spending on cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence. Americans broadly recognize the need for boosting domestic manufacturing capacity to produce what is needed for our national defense.

Amidst increasing conflict around the world, Americans want the United States to serve as the arsenal of democracy. They support providing security assistance to those fighting to defend their freedom, with strong majorities for assisting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

When it comes to how the United States stacks up to its adversaries, the survey reveals a pervasive but perhaps overconfident belief in the superiority of the U.S. military compared to the People's Republic of China.