Kathrine Frich
Donald Trump has never hesitated to challenge the international order.
His time as president has completely altered how traditional allies view American leadership.
Now, a new survey reveals exactly how heavily his policies are weighing on the global stage.
Sinking numbers
The global reputation of the United States is taking a heavy hit. For the second year running, people worldwide hold a darker view of America than they do of Russia.
According to a Reuters report cited by Digi24, the net perception of the US dropped to minus 16 percent. Just two years ago, that number sat at a healthy positive 22 percent.
By comparison, Russia scored minus 11 percent and China reached a positive 7 percent. When asked which country poses the greatest threat to the world, respondents frequently named the United States, placing it right behind Russia and Israel.
“Sad but not surprising”
The Democracy Perception Index arrives during a rough patch for transatlantic friendships. Policies pushed by US President Donald Trump have deeply shaken relations with traditional NATO allies.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen is the founder of the organization behind the survey and a former NATO secretary general. He noted that recent American foreign policy has caused severe damage.
“The rapid decline in the perception of the United States in the world is sad but not surprising,” Rasmussen said.
He added that American leadership has “questioned the transatlantic relationship, imposed widespread trade tariffs, and threatened to invade the territory of a NATO ally.” Reuters noted that tariffs and aid cuts have fueled this drop in trust.
Trailing behind
The same report, conducted by Nira Data, took a hard look at European nations. While Nordic countries received positive marks, others landed at the bottom of the pile.
Romania found itself in the lowest category alongside France and Serbia. The Eastern European nation scored minus 21, which is identical to Russia. Only Ukraine scored worse in Europe.
Public faith in the legal system paints a bleak picture for Bucharest. The data shows that Romania and Lebanon share the worst scores when it comes to trusting courts. Both countries hit a dismal index score of minus 36.
More than 94,000 people answered the survey ahead of the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. It seems many voters feel fair governance is slipping away.
Sources: Digi24, Reuters
