China a better influence in Latin America than US: poll

Key Points:

• A 2026 Latinobarometro survey across 17 Latin American countries found that 65% of respondents view China's influence positively, surpassing the United States for the first time since 1995, when only 57% viewed the US influence positively.
• The survey attributes this shift partly to the US's reduced engagement in the region following the 2003 Iraq War, during which Latin America strengthened ties with China, the EU, and Japan.
• China's appeal is linked to providing access to cheaper imports, filling an economic void for many Latin Americans, according to Marta Lagos, director of Latinobarometer.
• While the US remains more popular as a country (63% favorable) than China (58%), its popularity has declined since 2024 under President Biden, coinciding with former President Trump's "Donroe Doctrine" aimed at reasserting US dominance in Latin America.
• The poll also showed mixed views on the US-led overthrow of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with most countries approving the action but fewer believing it benefited Venezuela; Venezuelans themselves viewed US influence more positively than others.