Latinobarometro poll shows China surpassing US in regional influence across Latin America

Reversal in regional perception

The 2026 Latinobarómetro public opinion survey shows that Latin Americans view China's influence across the region more positively than that of the United States. Conducted across 17 countries, the study marks the first time China has led the United States on this measure since annual polling began in 1995. The proportion of respondents viewing China's influence as positive rose from 48% in 2020 to 65% in 2026. Over the same six-year span, the share of respondents viewing US influence positively fell from 60% to 57%. Meanwhile, negative perceptions of Washington rose from 28% to 37%, while negative views of Beijing dropped from 37% to 26%. Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic were the only two surveyed countries where US influence was rated more positively than China's.

Economic reach and diplomatic shifts

Latinobarómetro director Marta Lagos attributed the trend to long-term commercial engagement alongside reduced US attention following the 2003 Iraq War. Over that period, Latin American countries deepened ties with external partners, including the European Union, Japan, and China. Lagos observed that access to lower-cost imports played a direct role in shaping public attitudes across the region. According to Lagos, negative perceptions of Donald Trump also contributed to the declining standing of the United States.

The void that China fills is the void in people's pockets, more than anything else.

Country favorability and the Donroe Doctrine

Despite losing the lead on regional influence, the United States still retains higher overall favorability as a country than China. Approximately 63% of respondents reported a favorable view of the United States, compared to 58% for China. However, general US favorability dropped ten percentage points from 73% in 2024, when Joe Biden was in the White House. The poll followed the return of Donald Trump to the presidency, whose administration has asserted regional authority under what it terms the Donroe Doctrine. The policy references fifth US president James Monroe, who declared Latin America an exclusive sphere of US influence more than two centuries ago. Washington has sought to counter Chinese, Russian, and Iranian involvement in the region while forming the Shield of the Americas coalition with approximately 15 right-leaning governments.

Public reaction to the Maduro operation

The survey also measured public reactions to US military actions in the region, including operations against suspected drug trafficking boats and the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in Brazil. A majority of respondents in 16 of the 17 countries approved of the US special forces operation that removed Maduro. Argentina was the sole surveyed country where a majority did not approve of the capture. Public opinion was more divided regarding the broader consequences for Venezuela, with 35% stating the operation benefited the country and 28% saying it caused harm. Venezuelan respondents ranked among the most likely in the region to view US influence positively. The survey was conducted by the Chile-based non-profit Latinobarómetro through more than 19,200 face-to-face interviews between May 7 and June 17, 2026, with a 1% margin of error.