Latinobarometro 2026 poll: China's influence in Latin America now seen as more positive than US influence

A 2026 Latinobarometro poll of 17 Latin American countries, published on October 2, 2026, found that for the first time since 1995, China is viewed as a more positive influence than the United States. 65% of respondents saw China positively, up from 48% in 2020, while 57% saw the US positively, down from 60%. The US remained more popular as a country (63% favorable) than China (58%), but its popularity dropped from 73% in 2024. The survey, based on 19,200 interviews, also showed that most countries approved of the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but only 35% thought it benefited Venezuela.