Bilateral Relations

The United Nations is broadly credited with promoting peace and human rights as younger adults are more supportive of cooperation with other countries.

The pandemic has had a divisive effect on a sense of national unity in many of the countries surveyed: A median of 46% feel more national unity now than before the coronavirus outbreak, while 48% think divisions have grown.

Unfavorable views of China reach new historic high, and a majority supports taking a tougher stand on human rights.

There is widespread support in Taiwan for increased economic and political ties with the U.S. While many are wary of stronger political ties with mainland China, about half would favor stronger economic relations.

Republicans are more negative than Democrats toward China, though unfavorable ratings have climbed among both parties.

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.

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.

More countries still name the U.S. as the foremost economic power than say the same of China. And, even in nations that welcome China’s economic growth, few feel similarly about its growing military might.

Americans and Germans continue to have notably different perspectives on the relationship between their countries.

Unfavorable opinion of China in the U.S. is at its highest level in 14 years of polling. Americans also increasingly see China as a threat, and more than half see friction in the current bilateral economic relationship.