According to a recent Gallup poll, there has been a noticeable change in how Americans perceive international threats to the United States, with a decreasing number of individuals identifying China and Russia as the primary enemies compared to the previous year.
The survey indicates that only 41% of Americans now see China as the greatest threat to the U.S., down from 50% in the prior year, reflecting a shifting sentiment towards China in the public perception.
Likewise, the perception of Russia as the number one enemy of the U.S. has dropped from 32% to 26%, showcasing evolving attitudes within the populace amid changing global and domestic landscapes.
The poll also highlights a partisan divide in how threats are identified, with a significant gap between Republicans and Democrats. While 67% of Republicans view China as the primary enemy, only 18% of Democrats share this sentiment. On the other hand, 48% of Democrats consider Russia as the top threat, compared to just 10% of Republicans.
There has been a notable increase in concerns regarding Iran as a threat, with 9% of respondents now seeing it as a top enemy, up from 2% in the previous year, signifying a significant rise in apprehension towards Iran.
In a surprising discovery, 5% of Americans now perceive the U.S. as its own worst enemy, the highest percentage since 2005, showcasing a shift in internal perspectives on threats.
The poll also points to emerging threat perceptions, as both Israel and Ukraine were identified by 2% of respondents each as top enemies for the first time, revealing new areas of concern among the American public.
Additionally, there has been a diminished concern regarding North Korea as the primary enemy of the U.S., with only 4% of respondents seeing it in that light, down from 7% in the previous year.
In terms of favorability ratings, Russia and North Korea received the lowest ratings at 8% and 9% respectively, while allies such as Canada and Japan enjoyed high favorability, with each receiving 83% favorable ratings.
