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M EN U PROJEC TS

MARCH 22, 2013

U . S . F o r e i g n P o l i c y : K e y D a t a

P o i n t s f r o m P e w R e s e a r c h

Despite the difficult foreign policy problems facing the United States, most Americans agree that the nation should focus more on problems here at

home. At the same time, the public expresses robust support for an activeapproach to world affairs.

http://www.people-press.org/2012/06/04/section-7-values-about-foreign-policy-and-terrorism/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/03/22/u-s-foreign-policy-key-data-points/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/03/22/u-s-foreign-policy-key-data-points/http://www.pewresearch.org/

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(ht tp://www .people-press.org/20 1 2/06 /04/section-7 -v alu es-about -foreign -policy -and-

terrorism/)

According to our Trends in American Values report (http://www.people-

press.org/2 01 2/06 /04/section-7 -v alu es-about-foreign -policy -and-terrorism/) released in

June 2012, 83% agree that we should pay less attention to problems overseas andconcentrate on problems here at home. Thats up 10 points since 2002, shortly after the

9/11 attacks, and the highest percentage expressing this view since 1994. At the sametime, the percentage agreeing that its best for the future of our country to be active in

world affairs has fallen from 90% to 83% since 2009, while the percentage disagreeingdoubled from 7% to 1 4%.

The public is divided on the use of military strength.

http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/09/18/chapter-4-u-s-leadership-and-the-global-balance-of-power/http://www.people-press.org/2012/06/04/section-7-values-about-foreign-policy-and-terrorism/http://www.people-press.org/2012/06/04/section-7-values-about-foreign-policy-and-terrorism/

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(http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/09/18/chapter-4-u-s-leadership-and-the-global-balance-of-

power/)

According to our September 2012 survey, four-in-ten Americans believe the U.S. relies

on military strength too much to achieve its foreign policy goals, and about the samenumber (44%) say their country relies on its military strength about the right amount(http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/09/18/chapter-4-u-s-leadership-and-the-global-balance-of-

power/) . Only 10% say the U.S. relies on military might too little.

Most think the U.S. should be less involved in Middle East leadershipchanges.

(ht tp://www .people-press.org/2 01 2/1 0/1 8/on-ev e-of-foreign -debate-gr owin g-pessimism-

about-arab-spring-aftermath/)

Americans largely approve of the use of drones to target extremists, unlike

most other nations surveyed.

Americans largely support the use of drones to target ex tremists in countries like

http://www.people-press.org/2012/10/18/on-eve-of-foreign-debate-growing-pessimism-about-arab-spring-aftermath/http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/09/18/chapter-4-u-s-leadership-and-the-global-balance-of-power/http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/09/18/chapter-4-u-s-leadership-and-the-global-balance-of-power/

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Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. A survey released February of this year found 56% of the

U.S. public continues to support (http://www.people-press.org/2 01 3/02 /1 1 /continu ed-

support-for-u-s-drone-strikes/) the drone program and 26% say they disapprove. Support

for drone attacks crosses party lines: 68% of Republicans and 58% of Democrats say

they support the strikes.

(ht tp://www .people-press.org/2 01 3/02 /1 1 /contin ued-support-for-u-s-drone-strikes/)

In the rest of the world, there has been strong opposition to American drone strikes. In

17 of 20 countries surveyed last spring, more than half disapproved of the U.S.conducting drone attacks (http://www.pewglobal.org/2 01 2/06/1 3/cha pter-1 -v iews-of-the-

u-s-and-amer ican-foreign -policy -4/#drones) . The policy was particularly unpopular in

majority-Muslim nations, but it also faced disapproval in Europe and other regions as well.

http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/06/13/chapter-1-views-of-the-u-s-and-american-foreign-policy-4/#droneshttp://www.pewglobal.org/2012/06/13/chapter-1-views-of-the-u-s-and-american-foreign-policy-4/#droneshttp://www.people-press.org/2013/02/11/continued-support-for-u-s-drone-strikes/http://www.people-press.org/2013/02/11/continued-support-for-u-s-drone-strikes/

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(ht tp://www .pewglobal.org/201 2/06 /1 3 /cha pter-1-v iews-of-th e-u-s-and-am erican -foreign -

policy -4/#drones)

Overall, defending the nation from terrorism has remained a top priority (ht tp://www .people-press.org/2 01 3/01 /24 /deficit-reduction-rises-on-publics-agen da-for-

obamas-second-term/) for the U.S. public in recent years, although it has slipped from

the top spot since 2002. In 2013, 71 % of the public said it was a top priority for Congressand the president, behind strengthening the nations economy (84%) and improv ing the

ob situation (79%) and about the same as reducing the deficit (72%). ( Explore ourinteractive data visual on the publics top priorities 2002-2013 (http://www.people-

ress.org/interactives/top-priorities/) .)

Americans continue to support a tough stance to prevent I ran from

obtaining nuclear weapons.

http://www.people-press.org/2012/02/15/public-takes-strong-stance-against-irans-nuclear-program/http://www.people-press.org/interactives/top-priorities/http://www.people-press.org/2013/01/24/deficit-reduction-rises-on-publics-agenda-for-obamas-second-term/http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/06/13/chapter-1-views-of-the-u-s-and-american-foreign-policy-4/#drones

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(http://www.people-press.org/2012/02/15/public-takes-strong-stance-against-irans-nuclear-

program/)

Our February 2012 report found strong public support for taking tough measures including the possible use of military force to prev ent Iran from developing nuclear

weapons. Nearly six -in-ten (58%) said it is more important to prev ent Iran from

developing nuclear weapons (http://www.people-press.org/2012/02/15/public-takes-strong-

stance-against-irans-nuclear-program/) , even if it means taking military action. Just 30%

say it is more important to avoid a military conflict with Iran, even if it means thatcountry develops nuclear weapons. These opinions are little changed from October

2009.

Iran and China are at the top of the publics list of countries that pose the greatest danger

to the United States (http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/09/18/chapter-2-threats-and-

concerns/) . In a spring 2012 survey , 26% named China as the country that represents the

greatest danger to the United States; Iran received the second-most mentions at 16%.North Korea, at 1 3%, was third.

In the same survey examining attitudes about global threats, 70% said Irans nuclearprogram (http://www.pewglobal.org/2 01 2/09/1 8/chapter-2-threats-and-concerns/) poses a

major threat to the well-being of the United States.

A majority of Americans want troops out of Afghanistan quickly .

http://www.people-press.org/2012/10/18/on-eve-of-foreign-debate-growing-pessimism-about-arab-spring-aftermath/http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/09/18/chapter-2-threats-and-concerns/http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/09/18/chapter-2-threats-and-concerns/http://www.people-press.org/2012/02/15/public-takes-strong-stance-against-irans-nuclear-program/http://www.people-press.org/2012/02/15/public-takes-strong-stance-against-irans-nuclear-program/

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(ht tp://www .people-press.org/2 01 2/1 0/1 8/on-ev e-of-foreign -debate-growing -pessimism-

about-arab-spring-aftermath/)

Our surveys have found growing support since 2010 for withdrawing troops from

Afghanistan as soon as possible. In October 2012, six-in-ten said they want the troops

removed as soon as possible (http://www.people-press.org/2012/10/18/on-eve-of-foreign-debate-growing-pessimism-about-arab-spring-aftermath/) , up from just 40 percent in

2010.

Read more Pew Research reports on Foreign Policy(http://www.pewresearch.org/topics/foreign-affairs-and-policy/) .

Browse our other State of the Union tip sheets:

Overview | Economy | Middle Class | Gun Control | U.S.-China Relations | U.S.-

Middle East Relations | Immigration | Climate Change | Gay Marriage | Debt andDeficit

http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/08/debt-and-deficit-key-data-points-from-pew-research/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/07/gay-marriage-key-data-points-from-pew-research/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/07/climate-change-key-data-points-from-pew-research/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/06/immigration-tip-sheet-on-u-s-public-opinion/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/08/u-s-middle-east-relations-key-data-points/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/07/u-s-china-relations-key-data-points-from-pew-research/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/07/gun-control-key-data-points-from-pew-research/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/08/the-middle-class-pew-research-key-data-points/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/07/economy-key-data-points-from-pew-research/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/08/state-of-the-union-2013-pew-research-tip-sheet/http://www.pewresearch.org/topics/foreign-affairs-and-policy/http://www.people-press.org/2012/10/18/on-eve-of-foreign-debate-growing-pessimism-about-arab-spring-aftermath/http://www.people-press.org/2012/10/18/on-eve-of-foreign-debate-growing-pessimism-about-arab-spring-aftermath/