We’re covering the U.S.’s image problem in Latin America. Brazil’s bold — and uncertain — Amazon railway project. And the fight to control Congress and its agenda.
The Americas no longer ‘for the Americans’
A fresh Gallup poll among 135 countries shows that approval for U.S. global leadership (33 percent) is virtually tied with rates for China and Russia (32 and 30 percent, respectively). In the Americas, U.S. leadership is viewed very unfavorably by its closest neighbors, Canada and Mexico (22 and 17 percent), but is particularly low in wealthy South American countries, such as Chile and Uruguay (16 and 19 percent). In Brazil, approval for U.S. leadership has remained somewhat stable, at 38 percent.
By the numbers. Approval of U.S. leadership plummeted to 24 percent during Donald Trump’s first year in office, but has resurged recently to an overall rating of 34 percent. Meanwhile, 35 percent of citizens in the Americas are in favor of Germany as a global leader; China has 32 percent approval, and Russia is seen positively by 28 percent of respondents.
Why it matters. The poll shows how China has augmented its influence over Latin America by way of investments in infrastructure, energy, and mining —...