Trust in global powers: Australians now wary of both China and the US

In 2026, Australians are wary of the two superpowers, placing low levels of trust in both the United States and China. Trust in the United States to act responsibly in the world has fallen to 31%, the lowest level in the history of Lowy Institute polling. This new low represents a five-point drop from last year and a 25-point drop from 2024. By contrast, trust in China to act responsibly in the world has risen eight points since last year to 28%, narrowing the gap with the United States to just three points. In 2022, that gap was 53 points. At the time, 65% of Australians said they trusted the United States to act responsibly in the world, and a mere 12% said they trusted China. This represents the largest compression in the gap of trust between the superpowers in the history of Lowy Institute polling.

Australians place high levels of trust in liberal democracies and the United Nations. For the sixth year running, Japan is the most trusted power, with 89% of Australians saying they trust Japan to act responsibly in the world. Germany is the next most trusted power (83%), followed by the United Kingdom (81%). Seven in ten Australians (70%) say the United Nations is either ‘somewhat important’ or ‘very important’ to Australia’s national interests.

For two of Australia’s key regional partners — Indonesia and India — trust remains steady if moderate. Trust in Indonesia to act responsibly in the world sits at 57%, similar to last year’s result. Australians’ trust in India fell four points from last year to 50%.

Of the countries surveyed, Russia was once again the power least trusted by Australians with only 11% saying they trust Moscow to act responsibly in the world.