China, Russia rise in global esteem as US faces approval challenges

NEW DELHI: A recent survey reveals significant shifts in global approval ratings for the United States, China, and Russia, with America's standing notably declining in the Middle East and parts of Europe. The Democracy Perception Index 2024, conducted by the German firm Latana for the Alliance of Democracies, reflects these changes based on responses from 53 countries.
Decline in US approval
The US has experienced a downturn in approval particularly in the Middle East and Europe, largely due to its support for Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
"US popularity has taken a hit globally in 2024, particularly in MENA countries but also in Europe. At the same time, attitudes towards China and Russia have become more positive all around the world outside of Europe and the US," the report said.
"Attitudes towards the EU have become more negative in a handful of countries since 2023, particularly in many Muslim-majority countries (Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Malaysia and Indonesia), but also Poland and Ukraine," the report added.
Frederick DeVeaux, a senior researcher at Latana, noted, "For the first time since the start of the Biden administration, many Western European countries have returned to net negative perceptions of the US." This decline is especially pronounced in Germany, Austria, Ireland, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Rising sentiments for Russia and China
Conversely, Russia and China have seen improvements in their international images. In regions outside of Europe, sentiments toward these nations have become increasingly positive. This is in contrast to the US, where approval has suffered.
Economic ties and sanctions
The survey also highlights differing global perspectives on economic relations and sanctions. While the European region continues to support cutting economic ties with Russia due to the Ukraine conflict, other parts of the world prefer maintaining business relationships with Moscow. Similarly, there is a division between Western countries and others regarding potential sanctions against China in the event of an invasion of Taiwan.
About the survey
The Democracy Perception Index is an annual survey that canvasses opinions on democracy, geopolitics, and global power players. This year's study involved approximately 63,000 respondents from various countries, providing a broad overview of current global attitudes towards these major nations.