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Bogota, Oct 3 - According to a major poll conducted across 17 Latin American countries, China's influence is now perceived more favorably than that of the United States, marking the first such shift since the annual survey began in 1995. The 2026 Latinobarometro survey found that 57% of respondents viewed the United States as a positive influence, a decline from 60% in 2020.

Meanwhile, China's positive influence rose to 65%, a significant increase from 48% six years ago. Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic were the only countries where US influence was considered more positive than China's. The shift is largely attributed to Washington's "almost complete absence" from the region since the 2003 Iraq War.

During this time, Latin America "drew closer to other powers, to China, to the European Union, to Japan," said Marta Lagos, director of Latinobarometer. Lagos explained that China has won over Latin American populations by providing cheaper imports, calling it the "void in people's pockets." Disaffection towards the United States is growing, especially as Trump's second term continues.

Trump has openly sought to establish hegemony over Latin America through his "Donroe Doctrine," which blends his first name with that of James Monroe, a US president who declared Latin America the US' exclusive sphere of influence over two centuries ago. While the US remains more popular than China, with 63% viewing it favorably compared to 58% for China, its popularity has dropped compared to 2024, when Democratic President Joe Biden was in office and 73% had a favorable view of the US.

The "Donroe Doctrine" was evident in January when the US overthrew Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The Latinobarometro poll showed that a majority in all countries except Argentina approved of Maduro's capture, but only 35% believed it benefited Venezuela, while 28% thought it harmed the country. Venezuelans themselves viewed US influence most positively.

The non-profit Latinobarometro, which surveys opinions on various topics including democracy, economy, security, and migration, based the 2026 survey on 19,200 face-to-face interviews conducted in 17 countries between May 7 and June 17, with a margin of error of 1%.