GLOBAL confidence in the United States has declined significantly in recent years, with fewer people around the world viewing it as a reliable partner, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Centre.

The survey found that there were particularly steep declines in confidence in countries that have traditionally maintained close economic and security ties with Washington. 

In Canada, confidence in the US as a reliable partner fell from 83 per cent in 2022 to 35 per cent in 2026. 

Similar declines in confidence were recorded in France, Germany and Britain, where the figures fell from 62 per cent to 27 per cent, 83 per cent to 39 per cent and 82 per cent to 49 per cent, respectively.

Australia, one of Washington’s key Asia-Pacific allies, also saw confidence fall sharply, from 79 per cent in 2022 to 37 per cent this year.

The survey also revealed widespread scepticism towards US President Donald Trump, with a median of just 23 per cent of adults who said they have confidence in his handling of world affairs.

President Trump received negative ratings on several major foreign policy issues, including tariffs, the Gaza conflict, Iran, Greenland and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

People’s assessment of Washington’s willingness to consider other countries’ interests have also plummeted. 

In Germany, respondents who said that the US takes other nations’ interests into account dropped from 60 per cent in 2023 to 23 per cent in 2026.

Similarly, in Canada, Australia and Britain, the figures declined from 37 per cent, 40 per cent and 49 per cent to 18 per cent, 13 per cent and 26 per cent, respectively.

The proportion of respondents who said the US respects personal liberty has reached its lowest level in several countries surveyed by Pew, including Australia, Canada and Greece.

From 2021 to 2026, that figure fell from 57 per cent to 33 per cent in Australia, from 60 per cent to 34 per cent in Canada and from 53 per cent to 36 per cent in Greece.

Overall favourable views of the US also declined in many countries over the past year, including double-digit drops in Indonesia, Italy, Nigeria, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey.

Some of the least favourable views came from predominantly Muslim populations, including Malaysia, Pakistan and Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. 

Israel, unsurprisingly, recorded the highest level of support among the countries surveyed.

The survey was conducted among 42,151 adults in 36 countries between February 8 and May 13, 2026.