[News] Major study shows world sees USA as biggest threat, and prefers China

Sun Jun 7 11:09:59 EDT 2026

Major study shows world sees USA as biggest threat, and prefers China
A global survey found people in most countries see the United States as 
the biggest threat to the world, and prefer China over the US. These are 
the results of the EU-backed Democracy Perception Index
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  Major study shows world sees USA as biggest threat, and prefers China
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      A global survey found people in most countries see the United
      States as the biggest threat to the world, and prefer China over
      the US. These are the results of the EU-backed Democracy
      Perception Index

Ben Norton <https://substack.com/@benjaminnorton>

Jun 7, 2026

<https://substack.com/@benjaminnorton>

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A comprehensive global study that surveyed tens of thousands of people 
in nearly 100 countries found that the vast majority see the United 
States as the biggest threat to the world.

At the same time, more and more nations say they prefer China over the 
US. China’s approval rating has risen dramatically in the Global South, 
in particular, where support for the US has plummeted.

<https://substack.com/redirect/38b3edc5-3af7-4a3a-b39a-5352621d9f0c?j=eyJ1IjoibHZwcGIifQ.9RIwWbE6EVIB7Jy8lfazxZKfps8R18neRGMKwOiqnRM> 

These were the results of the 2026 Democracy Perception Index 
<https://substack.com/redirect/d86c0e62-bb37-4d4d-92d8-2463b7ccd63b?j=eyJ1IjoibHZwcGIifQ.9RIwWbE6EVIB7Jy8lfazxZKfps8R18neRGMKwOiqnRM>, 
an annual study conducted by a group called the Alliance of Democracies.

The Alliance of Democracies cannot in any way be accused of being 
“pro-China” or “anti-US”. The organization was founded by Anders Fogh 
Rasmussen, the former secretary general of NATO and right-wing ex-prime 
minister of Denmark.

It is also funded by a Who’s Who of European governmental bodies, major 
US corporations, US government-linked groups, and even Taiwan.

Some of the organizations that finance the Alliance of Democracies 
<https://substack.com/redirect/47683ffe-6244-4bdc-9d28-1f1a1a022ded?j=eyJ1IjoibHZwcGIifQ.9RIwWbE6EVIB7Jy8lfazxZKfps8R18neRGMKwOiqnRM>include 
Palantir, Microsoft, the EU’s European Endowment for Democracy, the 
right-wing Atlas Network, the US government-sponsored Freedom House, and 
the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.

Despite these links, the group’s 2026 Democracy Perception Index came to 
some conclusions that will doubtless infuriate hawks and cold warriors 
in Washington.

	<https://substack.com/redirect/c776ee1d-9807-49d3-8b2e-b3431857b923?j=eyJ1IjoibHZwcGIifQ.9RIwWbE6EVIB7Jy8lfazxZKfps8R18neRGMKwOiqnRM> 	

The survey asked 23,968 respondents in 84 countries which nation they 
consider to be “the biggest threat to the world”.

Most people in 65 out of the 84 countries said the United States is the 
largest danger.

Another 10 countries (almost all in Europe) said Russia is the biggest 
threat. Seven (in West Asia and North Africa) said Israel. Israel said 
Iran. Japan said China.

	<https://substack.com/redirect/18b0f17d-afa7-418d-8882-fce75f4669d1?j=eyJ1IjoibHZwcGIifQ.9RIwWbE6EVIB7Jy8lfazxZKfps8R18neRGMKwOiqnRM> 	

The Democracy Perception Index likewise surveyed people in 97 nations 
and asked if they think the US should “have military bases in your country”.

Most people in 86 countries said no.

There was only clear support for US military bases in four out of the 97 
surveyed nations: Israel, Poland, Puerto Rico, and South Korea.

	<https://substack.com/redirect/923af802-64a2-4325-b249-7098ac3286e6?j=eyJ1IjoibHZwcGIifQ.9RIwWbE6EVIB7Jy8lfazxZKfps8R18neRGMKwOiqnRM> 	

Popular opinion of the United States has also declined precipitously, 
according to the survey.

The Democracy Perception Index found that the US has a net negative 
perception in 74% of the surveyed countries.

The US was only popular in a small handful of nations, like Israel, the 
Dominican Republic, Georgia, and Nigeria.

The US is most disliked in Europe, West Asia and North Africa, and the 
Asia-Pacific region.

	<https://substack.com/redirect/696d08c9-f680-487e-9b30-1c9153e7c3dd?j=eyJ1IjoibHZwcGIifQ.9RIwWbE6EVIB7Jy8lfazxZKfps8R18neRGMKwOiqnRM> 	

In contrast, the survey found that China is increasingly popular around 
the world.

Most people in 63 of the 83 surveyed countries said they prefer China 
over the US.

The report noted that the US has the highest level of support in Israel, 
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Ukraine — but it noted that these are 
“exceptions”.

China was especially popular in West Asia, North Africa, Sub-Saharan 
Africa, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

	<https://substack.com/redirect/e8879e14-6665-4b50-b646-de6f41fdc0d0?j=eyJ1IjoibHZwcGIifQ.9RIwWbE6EVIB7Jy8lfazxZKfps8R18neRGMKwOiqnRM> 	

Moreover, the study asked people in 98 countries what they think about 
the US war against Iran. (The survey was conducted from 19 March to 21 
April 2026, and the US unilaterally launched a war of aggression against 
Iran on 28 February.)

A plurality of nations, 41 of the 98, supported Iran. Only 28 said they 
side with the US. (The other 29 were divided or not clear.)

	<https://substack.com/redirect/291a8cf8-4548-4191-b0f1-d08745e94176?j=eyJ1IjoibHZwcGIifQ.9RIwWbE6EVIB7Jy8lfazxZKfps8R18neRGMKwOiqnRM> 	

The Democracy Perception Index also asked people in 98 countries if they 
support Israel or Palestine.

A slightly majority, 51 of the 98, said they back Palestine. Just 17 
countries prefer Israel.

Israel has its highest level of support in Ukraine, the US, the 
Dominican Republic, Georgia, and Panama.

	<https://substack.com/redirect/e0ff302e-5c72-4864-b272-1f626c4e742c?j=eyJ1IjoibHZwcGIifQ.9RIwWbE6EVIB7Jy8lfazxZKfps8R18neRGMKwOiqnRM> 	

Another question that the survey asked was if people think their country 
is “heading in the right direction”.

The number one nation, with the highest level of optimism, was China.

The only countries in the western hemisphere where a majority of people 
said yes were El Salvador and Nicaragua (which is governed by the 
revolutionary Sandinista Front 
<https://substack.com/redirect/59703c6b-ef85-44d2-9ea5-6cd83d40700c?j=eyJ1IjoibHZwcGIifQ.9RIwWbE6EVIB7Jy8lfazxZKfps8R18neRGMKwOiqnRM>).

Some of the lowest levels of optimism were in France, Puerto Rico, 
Lebanon, Germany, and Nigeria.

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© 2026 Benjamin Norton
548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104

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