Shaky US Leadership... "Non-supporters Increase from 33% to 36%"

Gallup, 2023 US International Leadership Survey Results
Leadership Positive Rating 41%, Same as 2022
Support Declines in Key Allies Including Ukraine

Global resentment toward the United States' international leadership has increased among countries worldwide.

According to the global leadership survey results released by polling agency Gallup on the 23rd (local time), the approval rating (median) of the United States' international leadership across more than 130 countries worldwide remained at 41% in 2023, the same as in 2022. However, the percentage of respondents who did not support U.S. leadership rose to 36%, up from 33% in 2022, indicating a more negative evaluation.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

This survey is significant as it provides an opportunity to examine international perceptions of the U.S.'s global influence amid intense wars in Europe and the Middle East. The results showed that the U.S. maintained steady international support in 2023, similar to 2022, but support fluctuated among some key allies.

In particular, in Ukraine, U.S. support dropped 13 percentage points from 66% in the first year of the war in 2022 to 53% last year. This decline is interpreted as being influenced by the stalled U.S. congressional budget bill for Ukraine aid. Additionally, support fell by more than 20 percentage points in Gambia and Uganda, and by about 10 percentage points in India, Finland, and Kenya.

On the other hand, support for U.S. leadership in Israel soared to a record high of 81%. This is attributed to the survey being conducted after U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to Israel and his expression of full support. South Korea's positive evaluation of U.S. leadership rose by 4 percentage points from 46% in 2022 to 50% last year.

Julie Ray, Gallup Global News Editor, stated, "The relatively stable positive evaluation of U.S. leadership suggests that the world is holding its breath ahead of the U.S. presidential election this November," adding, "The Biden administration's rating in its third year in office is lower than most of former President Barack Obama's ratings but higher than those during the George W. Bush and Donald Trump administrations."

Meanwhile, in the same survey, Germany's leadership received a positive rating of 46%, achieving the highest global record for seven consecutive years. China received a 30% positive rating, and Russia received 22%.