Global Concerns Rise as Disinformation and Hacking Emerge as Primary Threats While U.S. Reputation Declines

The annual Ipsos World Affairs poll for the Halifax International Security Forum reveals shifting global attitudes toward international threats and influence, with notable changes in perceptions of major powers following recent political developments.

Disinformation and cybersecurity concerns remain paramount globally, with 77% of respondents across 30 countries identifying both the spread of disinformation and hacking for fraudulent or espionage purposes as significant threats to global security. These twin concerns have topped the threat list for two consecutive years.

Canada maintains its decade-long position as the country perceived most likely to exert a positive influence on world affairs, with 80% of global respondents expressing confidence in Canadian leadership. This stands in stark contrast to perceptions of the United States, which has experienced a dramatic decline in its global standing.

American influence has fallen significantly in the wake of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency. Only 48% of respondents now believe the U.S. will have a positive impact on world affairs over the next decade, down 12 percentage points from last year’s pre-election poll. The decline is particularly pronounced in Canada, where positive perceptions of U.S. influence plummeted 28 points to just 24%.

The U.S. is now seen as the country most likely to be losing global influence, with 32% of respondents holding this view. Meanwhile, nearly one-third (28%) believe America is still gaining influence on the world stage. Despite these concerns, 58% of respondents expect the U.S. to return to its traditional global role after Trump’s term ends.

China has emerged as the perceived ascendant power, with 46% of respondents viewing it as the country gaining the most influence globally. The BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and CRINK countries (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea) are also seen as rising powers, with 31% of respondents noting their increasing influence. Western and developed nations lag behind at just 18%.

After Canada, respondents identified their own countries (76%), Germany (73%), the European Union (70%, tied with France), and Great Britain (68%) as the most positive influencers. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Iran and Israel tied at 25% as the countries least likely to have a positive impact on world affairs.

Global defense concerns feature prominently in the findings. An overwhelming 83% believe maintaining a strong national defense is important even during peacetime, while 60% think their governments should increase military spending given worldwide threats. Interestingly, 64% consider economic power more important than military strength in world affairs.

Attitudes toward military service vary dramatically across countries. Overall, 52% support mandatory military service for young people, ranging from 76% approval in Malaysia to just 17% in Japan. Approximately 48% say they would personally join preparation programs in case of foreign invasion, while 43% believe new immigrants should be required to serve in the military for a period.

The survey reveals growing pessimism about global conditions. Only 33% of respondents believe more things are getting better than worse, down from 47% when the question was first asked in 2017. However, fear of increasing danger has actually declined somewhat, with 79% saying the world became more dangerous in the past year – down from a peak of 86% in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Ipsos poll, conducted between September 19 and October 3, 2025, surveyed 23,586 adults across 30 countries. The comprehensive sample included participants from North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa, with varying sample sizes designed to ensure representative data from each region.

As global tensions continue to evolve, the findings highlight a world increasingly concerned about information integrity and cybersecurity, while traditional power structures shift amid changing geopolitical dynamics.