Americans want US to lead globally but doubt military can win major wars overseas, survey finds

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A new national defense survey shows Americans are increasingly alarmed by global threats and more willing to see the United States assert leadership on the world stage — even as doubts grow about the military’s readiness to deter adversaries and win wars overseas.

The 2025 Reagan National Defense Survey, released Wednesday by the Ronald Reagan Institute, finds 64% of Americans want the U.S. to be more engaged and take the lead internationally, a clear majority that cuts across political lines. But that desire for greater U.S. leadership comes alongside a darker view of the Pentagon’s capabilities: just 49% believe the U.S. military can win a war overseas, and only 45% say it can effectively deter foreign aggression.

In an interview, Rachel Hof