{"id":29189,"date":"2017-11-15T11:47:42","date_gmt":"2017-11-15T16:47:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2017\/11\/15\/india-and-the-world\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T03:56:49","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T08:56:49","slug":"india-and-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2017\/11\/15\/india-and-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"4. India and the world"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Amid steep declines<\/a> \u00a0in the image of the U.S. around the world, Indians remain relatively positive on America and its president. Roughly half (49%) have a favorable view of the U.S., while just 9% have an unfavorable view. Four-in-ten have confidence in President Donald Trump to do the right thing regarding world affairs, and only 16% do not trust him on the world stage.<\/p>\n\n

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Still, this year\u2019s ratings for the U.S. and its president are lower than in previous years. In the last year of President Barack Obama\u2019s administration, solid majorities held a favorable opinion of the U.S. (56%) and trusted Obama\u2019s approach to international affairs (58%). Obama and Modi forged a close relationship<\/a> during Obama\u2019s tenure that was exemplified by their frequent visits, including Obama\u2019s 2015 trip to India for Republic Day<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Roughly half of BJP supporters (52%) are positive on the U.S., but only 36% of Congress party supporters agree. Congress backers, however, are more likely to express no opinion of the U.S. There is a similar pattern on confidence in Trump, with BJP supporters slightly more likely to say they trust the U.S. president on the world stage (44% vs. 33%) and Congress supporters more likely to offer no opinion.<\/p>\n\n

When asked about Trump\u2019s personal characteristics, nearly half of Indian adults voiced no view. But among Indians who had an opinion, most said that Trump is a strong leader (42% overall) and well-qualified to be president (41%). Indians were split on whether the new American president is dangerous, arrogant and someone who cares about ordinary people. On balance, those responding to the question tend to believe Trump is neither charismatic (29% vs. 22%) nor intolerant (32% vs. 17%).<\/p>\n\n

These assessments stand in stark contrast to the negative ratings Trump receives in much of the world. Across 37 countries, people were most likely to say they think of Trump as \u201carrogant\u201d (a global median of 75%), \u201cintolerant\u201d (65%) and \u201cdangerous\u201d (62%). (For more on international views of the U.S., see <\/em>U.S. Image Suffers as Publics Around World Question Trump\u2019s Leadership<\/em><\/a>.<\/u><\/em>)<\/em><\/p>\n\n

When it comes to Trump\u2019s policies, much of the Indian public offers no opinion. However, more Indians approve than disapprove of Trump\u2019s plan to restrict immigration from select majority-Muslim countries (37% vs. 24%). BJP supporters (41%) are more likely than Congress backers (22%) to favor this policy.<\/p>\n\n

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There is also more approval than disapproval for a U.S. withdrawal from international climate change agreements (32% vs. 25%). (The survey was conducted before the Trump administration announced the U.S. was pulling out of the Paris climate accord.) Those who express an opinion on the U.S. withdrawing support for the Iran nuclear deal, building a wall on the Mexican border and pulling American support for international trade agreements tend to be divided on these issues.<\/p>\n\n

Indians voice mixed opinions of other global powers and Asian counterparts. Longtime rival Pakistan<\/a> receives extremely negative marks in India \u2013 72% have an unfavorable view of their northwestern neighbor. While a smaller share (41%) dislikes China, negative views outrank positive by 15 percentage points, reflecting the increasingly tense relationship<\/a> between the world\u2019s most populous countries. Russia fares about as well as the U.S., with 47% of Indians saying they see Russia in a positive light, and a slightly smaller share (42%) expresses warmth toward Japan, notwithstanding recent efforts by New Delhi and Tokyo to deepen economic ties.<\/a><\/p>\n\n