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

Global Security Poll Reveals Shifting World Order, Declining Trust in U.S. Influence

The latest Ipsos World Affairs poll for the Halifax International Security Forum highlights growing concerns about disinformation and cybersecurity threats while documenting significant shifts in how countries are perceived on the global stage.

Canada maintains its decade-long position as the most positively viewed global influencer, with 80% of respondents across 30 countries believing it will have a constructive impact on world affairs in the coming decade. Meanwhile, perceptions of U.S. influence have plummeted following Donald Trump’s election, dropping 12 percentage points to just 48%.

The sharpest decline in U.S. favorability came from its northern neighbor, with Canadian positivity toward American influence plunging 28 points to a mere 24%. This “Trump slump” mirrors a similar reputation decline during his first presidential term from 2017-2021.

“We’re witnessing a clear recalibration of global influence,” noted a security analyst familiar with the findings. “The data shows America is now perceived as the country most likely to be losing global influence, with 32% of respondents holding this view.”

In contrast, China is seen as ascendant, with 46% of respondents believing it is gaining influence. Both BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and CRINK (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea) nations scored 31% in perceptions of increasing influence, substantially outpacing Western developed nations at just 18%.

Despite these shifts, 58% of respondents believe the United States will eventually return to its traditional global role after Trump’s presidency concludes.

The poll, conducted between September 19 and October 3, 2025, reveals widespread concern about information warfare, with 77% of respondents identifying deliberate disinformation campaigns as a significant threat. This ties with worries about hacking for fraud or espionage purposes as the top global concern for the second consecutive year.

Global pessimism continues to deepen, with only one-third of respondents believing more things are getting better than worse—down 14 points since the question was first asked in 2017. However, fear appears to be moderating slightly, with 79% saying the world became more dangerous in the past year, down from 86% in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The survey also explored attitudes toward national defense, revealing that 83% believe maintaining strong military capabilities remains important even during peacetime. However, opinions diverge significantly on mandatory military service, with 52% supporting such requirements for young people. Support varies dramatically by country, from 76% in Malaysia to just 17% in Japan.

Three in five respondents (60%) believe their governments should increase military spending given global threats, while a similar proportion (64%) consider economic power more important than military might in world affairs.

The bottom five countries in terms of positive influence include Iran and Israel (both tied at 25%), Pakistan (28%), Russia (32%), and the CRINK nations collectively (33%).

“What’s particularly noteworthy is the consistency of Canada’s position at the top of this ranking for a decade straight,” remarked a political scientist studying the findings. “Despite fluctuations in global tensions, they’ve maintained remarkably stable positive perceptions.”

The comprehensive survey included nearly 24,000 adults across 30 countries, with sample sizes adjusted by country population and methodology. While the overall picture suggests growing skepticism about global stability and traditional power structures, it also indicates resilience in how respondents view democratic allies like Canada, Germany, and the European Union.