Latin Barometro’s annual survey finds that China’s influence is improving while perceptions of US influence are deteriorating.
Published October 2, 2026
For the first time since the survey began in 1995, China is perceived more positively as a global influence in Latin America than the United States, according to a new regional survey.
The 2026 Latin Barometro survey released on Friday found that 65% of respondents from 17 countries believe China is having a positive impact. In contrast, 57% of Americans answered the same way.
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Support for China has risen sharply since 2020, with 48% of respondents viewing China’s influence positively. In the United States, this number was down from 60% in the same period.
Of the countries surveyed, only Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic had respondents view U.S. influence more positively than China.
Latino Barometro, a Chile-based nonprofit organization, conducts annual surveys across the region on issues such as democracy, economy, security, and immigration.
The findings come as President Donald Trump seeks to strengthen Washington’s influence in Latin America during his second term, particularly through increased use of military force.
These include airstrikes on suspected drug smuggling vessels in the region, which rights groups have denounced as extrajudicial killings, and the abduction of Venezuela’s then-leader Nicolás Maduro in Brazil.
President Trump calls his approach the “Donroe Doctrine.”
Despite the findings regarding global influence, the United States remains more popular than China when asked about their overall views of both countries.
About 63% of respondents had a favorable opinion of the United States, compared to 58% about China. The U.S. figure was down from 73% in 2024.
The survey also asked respondents about Mr. Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces.
Majorities in every country except Argentina approved the detention of President Maduro by the US military.
Opinions are even more divided on what the operation means for Venezuela, with 35% saying Maduro’s removal has benefited the country and 28% saying it has harmed Venezuela.
The survey found that Venezuelans were among the people most likely to view U.S. influence positively.
The 2026 survey was based on about 19,200 face-to-face interviews conducted in 17 countries between May 7 and June 17, with a margin of error of 1 percentage point.
