SYDNEY, Dec 4 (Reuters) — A new regional survey shows that most citizens in Australia, Japan, and India view U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term as harmful to their national interests. The findings highlight growing concerns across the Indo-Pacific about American political volatility and its regional consequences.
The poll, conducted in August by the United States Studies Centre (USSC) at the University of Sydney, surveyed 1,000 respondents each from the four Quad nations — Australia, Japan, India, and the United States. The results reflect a region unsettled by rapid geopolitical shifts but still committed to strengthening joint security efforts.
According to the data, 56% of Australians, 54% of Indians, and 59% of Japanese respondents believe Trump’s current presidency has been bad for their country.
Declining Confidence in U.S. Alliances
The survey revealed weakening trust in U.S. security partnerships:
- Only 42% of Australians said that their alliance with the United States makes Australia safer — a 14-point drop since 2024 and the first time support has slipped below 50% since USSC began polling in 2022.
- In Japan, confidence in the U.S. alliance fell to 47%, a 5-point decline from the previous year.
The report highlighted widespread concerns about political instability, misinformation, and domestic tensions inside the U.S., which many respondents believe negatively impact Asia.
Interestingly, despite rising skepticism, all four nations still backed maintaining alliances with the United States.
China Still Viewed as a Regional Threat
Negative views of China remained consistent with past years:
- Australia: 48% see China as harmful in Asia
- United States: 40%
- Japan: 58%
- India: 46%
Japanese respondents also expressed the strongest dissatisfaction with their government’s China strategy — 59% said Tokyo’s approach was “too weak.”
AUKUS Still Supported, But Poorly Understood
The poll found broad support for AUKUS, the security partnership among Australia, the UK, and the U.S. However, only 27% of Australians felt their government has properly explained why nuclear-powered submarines are necessary.
