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Majority Back Military Action Against Latin American Drug Traffickers

12/4/2025

26 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Reagan National Defense Survey shows more than 60% of Americans support military action against drug traffickers in Latin America, a new question this year.
The survey, amid escalating U.S. airstrikes, finds 62% approval for military force in this context.
Confidence in the military is 49%, down from 70% in 2018.
62% favor deploying the National Guard to cities for crime control.
64% support arming Ukraine.

History

Historical Context

The Reagan Doctrine, established in the early 1980s, marked a shift in U.S. foreign policy by supporting anti-communist movements globally, including in Nicaragua and Angola. This approach aimed to counter Soviet influence during the Cold War. By 1989, public support for military intervention, as seen in Operation Just Cause against Manuel Noriega, reflected a growing willingness for U.S. military engagement abroad.

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Story summary

The Reagan National Defense Survey shows more than 60% of Americans support military action against drug traffickers in Latin America, a new question this year.
The survey, amid escalating U.S. airstrikes, finds 62% approval for military force in this context.
Confidence in the military is 49%, down from 70% in 2018.
62% favor deploying the National Guard to cities for crime control.
64% support arming Ukraine.

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