Poll: Most Britons see United States as problem for world

A majority of people in the United Kingdom now view the United States as a negative force on the global stage.

The poll was conducted by Public First, between April 3 and 7 amid the Iran–Israel war and growing transatlantic tensions, Politico reports.

According to the study, 53% of Britons now consider the US a negative force in the world, compared with 35% in December last year.

Only 29% of respondents described the US role as positive, down from 41% previously.

The survey, in which more than 2,000 people took part in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Germany, also shows a broader deterioration in perceptions of the United States.

Some 65% of Britons said the US more often creates problems for other countries (up from 46% in December).

57% said Washington “challenges allies” (up from 41%), while nearly half (49%) said they do not trust the US in crises, compared with 36% previously.

Only 22% of respondents believe the US helps solve international problems, while 27% say Washington supports its allies—both figures are significantly lower than in the previous poll.

The authors of the study noted that the so-called “special relationship” between London and Washington has traditionally been associated with a more positive perception of the US in Britain than in other countries, but that trust has now declined significantly elsewhere as well.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov