Nearly 60% of people in the United States (US) have a favourable view of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), a military alliance formed in the aftermath of World War Two to counter the threat of the Soviet Union.

This is according to Pew Research, an American think tank, which conducted the research between February and May.

People in 13 NATO-member states were asked whether they had a favourable or unfavourable opinion of the body.

Across the 13 countries, on average, 65% of people had a favourable opinion of NATO, with 30% being unfavourable.

Of the countries surveyed, Poland felt the most favourable towards NATO, with 78% of people surveyed in that country feeling favourable towards NATO, and 13% feeling unfavourable.

Turkey, of the 13 countries surveyed, had the highest proportion of people who held an unfavourable view of NATO. Fifty-nine percent of people in that country felt unfavourable towards NATO, and 27% felt favourable.

Pew said there was a sharp party-political divide in the US with regard to NATO, with 75% of Democrats favourable to the body compared to 42% of Republicans.