US Image Remains Positive in Colombia Despite Sharp Global Decline

In Colombia, the image of the United States remains largely positive, even at a time when perceptions of Washington are deteriorating in much of the world.

While numerous countries are registering a significant decline in their views of the United States during Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Colombians maintain a favorable perception of a historic ally with which they share deep economic, political, and security ties.

This trend makes Colombia one of the most notable exceptions within an international landscape marked by growing skepticism toward the United States. The latest data from the Pew Research Center shows that the country’s image has declined across much of Europe, North America, and other regions, largely driven by negative views of Trump.

However, a positive perception persists in Colombia, reflecting the weight of a bilateral relationship built over decades and one that goes far beyond changes of government in Washington.

US image remains positive in Colombia despite sharp global decline

The Global Attitudes Survey 2025, conducted by the Pew Research Center in 24 countries, shows that the image of the United States suffered a setback in 15 of them during the first year of Donald Trump’s new term in office.

The sharpest declines were recorded in Mexico, Sweden, Poland, and Canada, where support for the United States fell by more than 20 percentage points compared with the previous year. Across all the countries surveyed, public opinion was virtually split: a median of 49% holds a favorable view of the United States, while another 49% has an unfavorable opinion.

In contrast, Colombia maintains a positive perception of the United States. The report identifies the country as one of the few Latin American nations where favorable views remain the majority, setting it apart from neighbors such as Mexico and from several traditional U.S. allies that today express growing levels of rejection.

One of the main reasons behind this favorable perception is the depth of the bilateral relationship built over decades. The United States remains Colombia’s main trading partner, the largest foreign investor, and the primary source of remittances received by millions of Colombian households.

Between January and May 2026 alone, Colombian exports to the United States reached US$6.907 billion, a 13.3% increase compared with the same period of the previous year, accounting for nearly 29.3% of all the country’s foreign sales.

Even during last year’s diplomatic tensions and amid Trump’s tariff policies, the U.S. market has continued to be the main destination for Colombian products such as coffee, flowers, manufactured goods, and food products.

This economic interdependence has a direct impact on public perception. Thousands of Colombian companies depend on the U.S. market, and millions of families maintain economic ties through remittances sent from that country, strengthening an image associated with employment opportunities, trade, and development.

Trump generates more rejection than the United States

The study also highlights an important difference between perceptions of the United States and personal views of Donald Trump. In most of the 24 countries analyzed, negative opinions of the U.S. president prevail.

More than half of respondents in 19 countries say they have little or no confidence in Trump’s ability to handle international affairs. In addition, most describe him as an arrogant and dangerous figure, although they also acknowledge his leadership abilities.

Much of the deterioration in the international image of the United States is precisely linked to perceptions of Trump and to decisions such as the imposition of new tariffs, tensions with traditional allies, and challenges to international commitments.

A previous Pew Research poll had already pointed this out at the beginning of 2025, even before the announcement of the new global tariffs on April 2. This indicates that the decline in the United States’ international image was already significant, and it could now be even greater.

In fact, another study appears to point in the same direction. Conducted by Nira Data in more than 80 countries and with more than 94,000 respondents, the study found that 74% have a negative view of the United States, compared with only 26% who hold a positive opinion.

The Colombian case shows that perceptions of the United States do not depend solely on who occupies the White House. Although Trump’s figure generates controversy internationally, the relationship between the two countries is based on structural factors that transcend political changes.

Security cooperation, the fight against drug trafficking, trade exchanges, investment, tourism, and family ties built over decades have consolidated a relationship that maintains high levels of support among Colombians.

This combination explains why, while the image of the United States is losing ground in much of the world, Colombia continues to view the North American country as a strategic ally and an economic benchmark, even under one of the U.S. administrations with the lowest international approval ratings in recent years.