Disinformation and Hacking Identified as Leading Threats as U.S. Global Reputation Declines

In the latest edition of Ipsos’ annual World Affairs polling for the Halifax International Security Forum, global concerns about disinformation and cybersecurity remain paramount, while international perceptions of major powers continue to shift significantly.

For the second consecutive year, disinformation and hacking tied as the top global threats, with 77% of respondents across 30 countries identifying both as major concerns. This persistent anxiety reflects growing awareness of information warfare and digital vulnerabilities in an increasingly connected world.

Canada maintained its decade-long position as the country most likely to have a positive influence on world affairs, with 80% of respondents expressing confidence in its international role. This stands in stark contrast to perceptions of the United States, which saw a dramatic 12-point decline from 60% to 48% following Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.

The American reputation slump mirrors a similar pattern observed during Trump’s first administration. Particularly noteworthy is Canada’s dramatic shift in perception toward its southern neighbor, with Canadian confidence in positive U.S. influence plummeting 28 points to just 24% – the lowest among all surveyed nations.

Meanwhile, China is increasingly viewed as an ascendant power, with 46% of respondents identifying it as the country gaining the most influence globally. Other non-Western powers are also perceived to be rising, with BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and CRINK countries (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea) both registering at 31% in terms of growing influence. This contrasts sharply with Western developed nations collectively, which only 18% of respondents see as gaining influence.

The survey introduces new insights into attitudes toward national defense and military service. While 83% believe maintaining strong defense capabilities is important even during peacetime, opinions on mandatory military service vary dramatically by country – from 76% support in Malaysia to just 17% in Japan, with a global average of 52%.

This security consciousness exists alongside conflicting views on military spending and priorities. Three in five respondents (60%) believe their governments should increase military expenditures given global threats, yet 64% consider economic power more important than military might in international affairs.

Immigration and military service also intersect in public opinion, with 43% believing new immigrants should be required to serve in their adopted country’s armed forces – though this majority opinion appears in only seven of the surveyed nations.

The polling reveals a continuing trend toward global pessimism, with only one-third of respondents (33%) believing more things are improving than deteriorating worldwide – a 14-point decline since this question was first asked in 2017. However, fear levels have moderated somewhat from their peak in 2022, when 86% of people perceived the world becoming more dangerous in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That figure now stands at 79%.

Israel’s international standing has reached a notable low point, tying with Iran at just 25% for positive perception – placing them at the bottom of countries expected to have beneficial global influence. This polling, conducted between September 19 and October 3, 2025, captured reactions shortly after the announcement of a Gaza peace plan on September 29.

Despite fluctuating perceptions of individual nations, most respondents (58%) believe the United States will eventually return to its traditional global role after Trump leaves office, suggesting a view that current changes in international relations may be temporary rather than permanent realignments.

The comprehensive survey drew responses from over 23,500 adults across 30 countries, with sample sizes varying from 500 to 2,200 participants depending on the nation, and employed weighting methodologies to ensure representative findings across diverse global populations.