Who threatens Spain more? Until now, the answer had its own name: Russia. But something has changed. According to a global survey based on data from the Pew Research Center and published by the magazine The United States begins to occupy a disturbing place in the collective imaginary of the Spaniards: that of international threat. And it is not an isolated case. Citizens from eight countries, including several European democracies, also place the US as their main external threat, even ahead of powers such as China. Only Russia continues to lead that negative ranking, by concentrating the greatest distrust in nine countries of the European continent and its surroundings.
Between January 8 and April 26, the Pew Research Center probe more than 32,000 adults in 25 countries of medium and high income of all continents except Antarctica. In the case of Spain, the study makes clear a striking contrast: although many continue to consider the United States as a key ally, something that is also repeated in 15 of the 24 countries surveyed outside the US, more and more citizens point to it as a threat, especially for its economic weight. In six European countries, including ours, the US appears as the second most mentioned threat, behind Russia.
The answers were not collected from a closed list, but the respondents were requested to freely appoint countries that perceive as allies and those that consider dangerous. And the conclusion, at least for the US, is devastating.
The new podium of geopolitical fears
The data also reflect a clear trend: Russia, China and the United States distribute the global podium of fear. In Europe, Kremlin continues to lead the list, largely for the war in Ukraine and its history of aggressions to the sovereignty of other states. In countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden or the United Kingdom, more than half of the respondents points directly to Moscow. In the British case, the jump has been radical: in 2007, less than 10% saw Russia as a threat; Today, that perception already brushes 50%.
Greece unchecks the rest. There, most points to Türkiye as the main threat, an answer that reflects decades of territorial, cultural and military tensions between the two countries.
As for China, its image deteriorates especially in the Asia-Pacific region. In Japan and Australia, half of the population identifies it as its greatest threat. It is followed by the United States, with figures close to 20%. In India and South Korea, the focus moves to the neighbors: Pakistan and North Korea.
The negative perception of the US is also triggered in Latin America. In Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, surveyed of all profiles place the North American country at the top of the threat list. In Mexico, the percentage has gone from 56% to 68% since 2019. And in Canada, it has risen from 20% to 59%. A good part of the disenchantment responds to the decisions of the Trump administration: “reciprocal” tariffs that hit these countries hard, threats of annexation and even the closure of international cooperation programs such as USAID.
