Global perceptions of the United States have shifted, with a recent risk survey revealing the country is now viewed as “more threatening” than it was last year. Simultaneously, views of China have reportedly improved in several parts of the Western world, according to the survey released on Monday.
Shifting Global Perceptions
The report, released ahead of this week’s Munich Security Conference (MSC), also noted Beijing’s actions are “increasingly threatening regional stability” in the Indo-Pacific. The report further warned that the “vacillating” China policy of US President Donald Trump has created a “crisis of confidence” among Washington’s allies in the region.
Despite the increased perception of threat, the survey found that in eight of the ten countries polled, a majority of respondents still view the US as an ally. However, the report highlighted a universal decline in US approval ratings, with the gap between favorable and unfavorable views shrinking across all non-US nations surveyed.
Canada’s Declining View of the US
Canada experienced the most significant drop in positive sentiment toward the US, with a 52 percentage point decrease. This decline coincides with “growing diplomatic and trade tensions” between the two countries, according to the report.
The Munich Security Report 2026 characterized the second Trump administration as representing those who “promise to free their country from the existing order’s constraints and rebuild a stronger, more prosperous nation.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the survey reveal about perceptions of the US?
The survey revealed that the United States is now viewed as “more threatening” than it was last year in all surveyed countries.
What was said about China’s role in the Indo-Pacific?
The report accused Beijing of “increasingly threatening regional stability” in the Indo-Pacific.
How many people were surveyed for the Munich Security Index?
The survey drew on responses from 11,099 people from all G7 powers and four of the BRICS’ five founding members, excluding Russia.
As global perceptions of the US evolve, what impact might this have on international alliances and diplomatic strategies in the coming years?
