The U.S. image across NATO countries has weakened over the past year, while approval of China’s leadership has risen, according to new survey results from Gallup.
Gallup’s polling across NATO member states shows median approval of China’s leadership increased in 2025, while approval of U.S. leadership declined. NATO has been contacted for comment.
Why It Matters
NATO cohesion has faced sustained pressure since 2022, as China has provided support to Russia while maintaining that it is officially neutral on Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The shift in public sentiment comes amid worsening U.S.-China relations, a broader trade dispute, increased Chinese investment in parts of southern and central Europe, and messaging from President Donald Trump that has raised questions about the strength of Washington’s long-term commitment to the alliance.
Gallup’s findings point to a notable drop in approval for U.S. leadership within NATO—paired with a rise in support for China—at a sensitive geopolitical moment shaped by the war in Ukraine, unrest in Iran, and escalating tensions following Trump’s military actions in Venezuela and renewed claims involving Greenland.
What To Know
Gallup surveyed respondents in 31 NATO member states between March 27 and October 30, 2025. That fieldwork occurred before U.S. military action in Venezuela and after Trump again reiterated his desire to take control of Greenland from Denmark, a NATO founding member.
With a margin of error ranging from 3.4 to 5.4 percentage points, the survey suggests that approval of U.S. and Chinese leadership among NATO publics is now roughly comparable. Median approval of China’s leadership rose eight points to 22 percent—its largest single-year increase on record—while median approval of U.S. leadership fell to 21 percent, a 14-point decline from the prior year.
Approval of U.S. leadership dropped by at least 10 points in 18 NATO countries. However, China’s approval rose by double digits in only three of those—Spain, Italy, and Belgium—while most other member states saw smaller changes.
Gallup reported notable gains for China in Slovenia, Greece, Hungary, and Turkey. In eight member states, China’s approval exceeded the U.S. by at least 10 points: Slovenia, Luxembourg, Turkey, Bulgaria, Spain, Montenegro, Iceland, and Greece.
The U.S. led China in three countries—Poland, Albania, and Romania—while the remaining 20 member states showed broadly similar ratings for both powers.
Gallup said the new results place public support for U.S. and Chinese leadership “once again on par,” resembling patterns seen under earlier Republican administrations.
U.S. Action in Venezuela and Iran
Public opinion inside NATO is also being shaped by uncertainty over whether Trump could order military strikes on Iran in response to a crackdown on protests that have threatened the ruling regime—coming soon after the U.S. military captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
China is closely watching what Washington does next in Iran. Craig Singleton, a senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), said Trump-ordered strikes would likely be met with “rhetorical restraint in Beijing.”
Singleton argued that two complex U.S. military operations in two regions within a short time frame would reinforce a view inside China’s system that U.S. military power remains unmatched and that Washington will use it when it judges the risks manageable.
He added that Beijing would likely issue condemnations and call for restraint, but that the larger takeaway could be that China’s partnerships offer limited protection when the United States decides to act. “Venezuela made that clear regionally,” he said, and Iran would underscore it globally.
What People Are Saying
Gallup survey: “Although the U.S. and China have similar median approval ratings across NATO, China has significantly higher ratings than the U.S. in eight member states, whereas the U.S. leads China in three.”
What Happens Next
Public opinion within NATO could shift again in response to Trump’s most recent comments about acquiring Greenland, including statements in which he has not ruled out military force. Denmark has warned such a move would threaten the future of the alliance.
