Australia’s immediate neighbours are trusted more than historic allies, according to a new survey AAP reports on, which shows the United States is increasingly considered a “threat”.
Only half of the Australians polled in a YouGov survey, commissioned by the Australia Institute, considered long-time ally the US a “friend”. Meanwhile 42% perceived America as a “threat” (defined as a nation viewed with caution or suspicion).
Two-thirds of One Nation voters perceive the US as a friend, with the Coalition close behind. Labor voters are largely split and only one-quarter of Greens voters view the global superpower positively.
Only 4% of young voters labelled the US a “close friend” while over half considered it a threat.
Only 21% of respondents had confidence in Donald Trump to “do the right thing” in world affairs, ahead of only Chinese president Xi Jinping, Russian president Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Indonesia, a close geographic neighbour and emerging partner, has been rated a more trusted partner than the United States, leading by 14% in the friend category.
