Americans name China as the country posing the greatest threat to the U.S.
In an open-ended question allowing Americans to name which country they see as the greatest threat to the U.S., 50% name China.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
In an open-ended question allowing Americans to name which country they see as the greatest threat to the U.S., 50% name China.
As daunting challenges from Russia, China and a flagging global economy ripple across the world, Americans and Germans continue to say that relations between their countries are good. Most Americans and Germans continue to see each other as partners on protecting European security, and publics in each country are willing to support using military action to protect themselves and their allies.
A median of 60% across 10 surveyed member countries have a favorable view of the political and military alliance.
A median of about seven-in-ten people in 14 countries expressed unfavorable views of Iran, while only about two-in-ten hold a favorable view.
As the U.S. and Germany prepare to gain new leadership, their relationship remains unbalanced in the minds of their citizenries. Americans see Germany as a partner on many foreign policy issues, but Germans mostly do not.
International relations experts’ assessment of the current crises facing the world are often at odds with those of the U.S. general public.
NATO is generally seen in a positive light across countries in the alliance, but many express reservations about fulfilling Article 5’s collective defense obligations.
Political divides on both sides of the Atlantic continue to shape attitudes about relations with other nations, perceptions about defense spending and Americans’ and Germans’ views of each other.
Asked in spring 2019 which country or group poses the greatest threat to their country in the future, just 6% of Americans named Iran.
People around the world agree that climate change poses a severe risk to their countries, according to a 26-nation survey conducted in spring 2018. Terrorism, specifically from ISIS, and cyberattacks are also seen by many as major security threats.
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