Poll Indicates China Viewed More Positively Than US in Latin America

A recent poll conducted in 17 Latin American countries indicates that China's influence is now viewed more positively than that of the United States. The 2026 Latinobarometro survey, released on October 3, 2026, shows that 65 percent of respondents consider China a positive influence, up from 48 percent six years ago. In contrast, 57 percent view the United States positively, a decrease from 60 percent in 2020. Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic are the only countries where US influence is seen more favorably than China's. Marta Lagos, director of Latinobarometer, attributed the shift to the United States' reduced presence in the region since the 2003 Iraq War, which has led Latin America to engage more with other powers, including China. Lagos noted that China has gained favor by providing access to cheaper imports, stating, "The void that China fills is the void in people's pockets, more than anything else." While the United States remains more popular overall, with 63 percent of respondents expressing a favorable view compared to 58 percent for China, this marks a decline from 73 percent during Joe Biden's presidency in 2024. The poll also revealed that a majority in all but one country, Argentina, approved of the US's actions against Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, although only 35 percent believed it benefited Venezuela. The Latinobarometro survey included approximately 19,200 face-to-face interviews conducted between May 7 and June 17, with a margin of error of 1 percent.