Flags of Russia & US[/caption]Russia has replaced China as the country which the American public considers its greatest enemy, pollsters in the US report.
MOSCOW, Sputnik More Americans believe that Russia is the most threatening foreign country inthe world thanat any time inthe recent past, withthe proportion ofpeople naming Russia asthe greatest enemy ofthe US increasing nine-fold inthree years.
Polling carried outby Gallup onFebruary 8-11 found that Russia has replaced China asthe state which Americans believe tobe the US's greatest enemy. North Korea took second place, China third, and Iran fourth.
Respondents were asked the open-ended question: "What one country anywhere inthe world do you consider tobe the United States' greatest enemy today?" Russia was named by18 percent ofthose asked, upfrom nine percent in2014 and two percent in2012. China was chosen by12 percent ofrespondents, downfrom 20 percent in2014, when it took the top spot, and 23 percent in2012.
North Korea came second inthis year's poll, with15 percent, downslightly from16 percent in2014 and 10 percent in2012. Iran, which topped the poll in2012 with32 percent, was named the US's greatest enemy byonly nine percent ofrespondents, downfrom 16 percent in2014.
Iraq came fifth inthe public's fears, despitethe country having been underUS occupation sincethe US-led invasion in2003.
Americans were also asked abouttheir basic view ofRussia, with70 percent replying that they had an unfavorable basic view, and 24 percent favorable. The rating is the most negative recorded byGallup inthe 26 years it has been asking the question, duringwhich the pollsters explain the trend inratings "has fluctuated a great deal." Just three years ago, reported Gallup, Americans' views ofRussia were more positive thannegative.
The US researchers however sounded a positive note onUS-Russian public relations, pointing outthat "because Americans' attitudes aboutRussia have changed substantially inthe pastand have been quite positive attimes which has not been the case forcountries such asIran, Iraq and North Korea if Russian and American policy interests find more common ground, Americans' views ofRussia could recover quickly."
Gallup also noted that America's enmity towardsRussia "appears tobe mutual, given that a Gallup World Poll survey ofRussians conducted fromApril-June 2014 found 4% ofRussians approving and 82% disapproving ofUS Leadership."
Earlier this month Russian independent pollsters the Levada Center announced the results ofa poll taken inRussia onJanuary 15, according towhich 81 percent ofRussians held a negative opinion ofthe US, upfrom 44 percent a year ago. The European Union was also viewed negatively by71 percent ofthose polled, upfrom 34 percent inJanuary 2014, when 50 percent ofrespondents said they looked positively onthe EU. In contrast, Russian views ofChina were positive, with80 percent having a favorable view oftheir eastern neighbor, upfrom 77 percent ofrespondents inMay 2014.
By Sputnik News
