WASHINGTON, October 2. /TASS/. People around the world have more confidence in Russian President Vladimir Putin than in his US counterpart Donald Trump, a survey carried out by the Washington-based Pew Research Center showed on Monday.
According to the opinion poll conducted among 26,112 respondents from 25 countries, 30% believe Putin does the right thing in world affairs, and 34% have confidence in Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Only 27% say Trump pursues right policies in international affairs. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has the highest confidence rating of 52%, who is followed by French leader Emmanuel Macron (46%).
The poll also finds that "international public express significant concerns about America’s role in world affairs."
"Large majorities say the US doesn’t take into account the interests of countries like theirs when making foreign policy decisions. Many believe the US is doing less to help solve major global challenges than it used to," the survey said.
Meanwhile, China’s role on the world stage has grown over the past 10 years, the Pew Research Center said. "Still, by a slim margin, more people name the U.S. as the world’s leading economic power."
Trump’s ratings drop in Russia, across the world
The number of Russians who are sure that Trump’s policies on the international arena are right has fallen from 53% to 19% over the past year. When the Republican assumed his office, 41% of Russians viewed the US positively, compared with 15% by the end of Barack Obama’s presidency. Now this figure has plunged to 26%.
Trump’s lowest ratings are found in Mexico (6%), France (9%) and Germany (10%). "A median of 70% across the 25 nations polled lack confidence in the American leader."
Across the 25 nations polled, half of the respondents have a favorable opinion of the United States, while 43% "offer an unfavorable rating."
America’s closest allies and partners lack confidence in Trump, the survey showed. Only 30% of respondents in Germany and another 38% in France express a favorable opinion of the US, compared with 35% and 46% in 2016.
The survey was conducted from May 20 to August 12, 2018.
