The latest poll on Latin Americans’ views on democracy and their institutions should concern the U.S. According to this survey, China is winning.
Latinobarómetro, a yearly poll taken in 17 countries, and other trends show China’s influence on the rise.
Run by a Chilean nonprofit, Latinobarómetro measures views on a range of issues, including democracy, economy, security and immigration but also the influence of world powers like China and the United States.
Historically, the region has seen the U.S. in a positive light, and that has mostly remained stable for decades, with a significant advantage over China. But in the 2026 poll, 65% viewed China’s influence positively, compared with 57% for the U.S. That’s a notable shift from 2020, when the numbers were 48% and 60%, respectively.
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If you look at specific countries, only half of Mexicans view the U.S. positively. The perception improves in Central American countries and in the South Cone.
What has changed? The poll, taken earlier this summer, is likely a reflection of President Donald Trump’s aggressive policies in the region 20 months into his administration. This includes steep tariffs, the removal of a dictator in Venezuela, the bombings of alleged drug boats in the high seas and a regional security initiative, the Shield of the Americas.
While a majority approved of Nicolás Maduro’s removal from Venezuela, only about a third think the U.S. intervention will help the South American country. At the same time, there are more governments politically aligned with Trump. Their success or failure may be attached to how the U.S. is perceived as well.
But the story here is China. The Asian giant has been signing commercial agreements with several countries in the past years, and it has been flooding the region with cheap goods. Temu, China’s Amazon, averaged 114 million monthly active users in Latin America in the first half of 2025, according to Sensor Tower, a market intelligence firm.
China is also winning in auto manufacturing: According to industry reports, More than 80% of electric vehicles sold in Brazil came from Chinese brands.
The economic trends are having an impact, but the U.S. still has the political advantage. The Latinobarómetro poll found that 71% have a positive view of their country’s relations with the U.S. And there is one export China cannot compete with: democracy.
It's terrible that the Trump administration has relinquished much of its soft power in the region, including institution building, because China’s leadership views American values as a threat.
Democratic values are still a winning card for the U.S. to regain its foothold in the region, but it must be tied to security and economic policies to strengthen Latin America’s struggling democracies, as we stated in our series The Unraveling of Latin America. This is the winning strategy.
