Most Americans say U.S. can’t afford military action in Syria and Ukraine

Washington DC, January 13, 2025—Ipsos polling conducted in mid-December in the wake of former Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad fleeing Syria finds that while most Americans agree the U.S. cannot afford to be taking military action in Syria and Ukraine, most also think the U.S. should support democratic countries when attacked. There are notable partisan differences on these questions, with Republicans more likely than Democrats and independents to feel that the U.S. is not in a position to take military action in Syria and Ukraine.

Detailed findings:

Americans hold mixed opinions on international intervention by the U.S. in the Ukraine and Syria, differing by partisanship in some key areas.

1. Most Americans (70%) agree the U.S. should call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine that guarantees Ukrainian security, with little difference by partisanship.
2. Overall, majorities of Americans agree that given the current economic climate, the United States cannot afford to be taking military action in Syria or Ukraine (63% and 58% agreeing, respectively). Republicans are more likely than Democrats to feel this way, with independents falling between the two.
3. However, even as that is true, most Americans also say the U.S. must support democratic countries when they are attacked. Even as majorities regardless of partisanship agree with this, more Democrats (81%) than independents (66%) or Republicans (56%) agree.
4. Americans are split on whether the United States should offer support to groups in Syria to establish a stable, independent government, with half agreeing the U.S. should do this. At the same time, half of Americans also feel the problems of Syria are none of our business and the U.S. should not interfere.
5. Fewer Americans agree U.S. troops should remain in Syria to fight the Islamic State (41%); the problems of Ukraine are none of our business, and the U.S. should not interfere (38%); and the U.S. should leave the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (21%).

Few Americans have heard about the Syrian president, Bashar Al-Assad fleeing Syria after rebels successfully took control of the country when polling was conducted in mid-December.

1. When polling was conducted in mid-December, only about two in five Americans (38%) say they had heard a great deal or a fair amount about Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad fleeing Syria after Syrian rebels successfully took control of the country.
2. Democrats (45%) and independents (43%) are more likely to have heard about this event than Republicans (33%).

About the Study

This Ipsos poll was conducted December 13-15, 2024, by Ipsos using the probability-based KnowledgePanel®. This poll is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 1,029 general population adults aged 18 or older.

The margin of sampling error for this study is plus or minus 3.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results based on the entire sample of adults. The margin of sampling error takes into account the design effect, which was 1.14. The margin of sampling error is higher and varies for results based on other sub-samples. In our reporting of the findings, percentage points are rounded off to the nearest whole number. As a result, percentages in a given table column may total slightly higher or lower than 100%. In questions that permit multiple responses, columns may total substantially more than 100%, depending on the number of different responses offered by each respondent.

The survey was conducted using KnowledgePanel®, the largest and most well-established online probability-based panel that is representative of the adult U.S. population. Our recruitment process employs a scientifically developed addressed-based sampling methodology using the latest Delivery Sequence File of the USPS – a database with full coverage of all delivery points in the US. Households invited to join the panel are randomly selected from all available households in the U.S. Persons in the sampled households are invited to join and participate in the panel. Those selected who do not already have internet access are provided a tablet and internet connection at no cost to the panel member. Those who join the panel and who are selected to participate in a survey are sent a unique password-protected log-in used to complete surveys online. As a result of our recruitment and sampling methodologies, samples from KnowledgePanel® cover all households regardless of their phone or internet status and findings can be reported with a margin of sampling error and projected to the general population. The data were weighted to adjust for gender by age, race/ethnicity, education, Census region, metropolitan status, household income, and party ID. Party ID benchmarks are from the 2024 NPORS annual survey. The demographic benchmarks came from the 2024 March supplement of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS).

• Gender (Male, Female) by Age (18–29, 30–44, 45-59 and 60+)
• Race/Hispanic Ethnicity (White Non-Hispanic, Black Non-Hispanic, Other, Non-Hispanic, Hispanic, 2+ Races, Non-Hispanic)
• Education (Less than High School, High School, Some College, Bachelor degree, Master’s degree or above)
• Census Region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West)
• Metropolitan status (Metro, non-Metro)
• Household Income (Under $25,000, $25,000-$49,999, $50,000-$74,999, $75,000-$99,999, $100,000-$149,999, $150,000+)
• Party ID (Democrat, Lean Democrat, Republican, Lean Republican, Independent/Something else)

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Chris Jackson
Senior Vice President, US
Public Affairs
+1 202 420-2025
[email protected]

About Ipsos

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Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

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