CGTN Poll: U.S. hegemonic diplomacy raises global governance alarms

The "America First" foreign policy has raised widespread concern in the international community. According to a survey conducted by CGTN among global netizens, as many as 90.7 percent of the respondents condemn the United States for wanting to gain international leadership while refusing to shoulder its responsibilities in global governance, viewing this as a clear reflection of a hegemonic diplomacy.

Amid criticism and protests, the United States officially withdrew from the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement. In the survey, 57.8 percent of the respondents believe that this move by the U.S. will negatively impact global issues such as public health and climate governance. Additionally, the United States still owes $260 million in dues to the World Health Organization, with 81.9 percent of respondents urging the U.S. to promptly pay its outstanding fees. Since the start of 2026, the United States has withdrawn from a wide range of international organizations, covering numerous areas of global governance, including climate governance, public health, education, culture, refugees and sustainable development. In the survey, 83.4 percent of respondents criticize the United States for its passive attitude toward global governance, condemning it as an "irresponsible major power," while 85.3 percent believe that the "America First" policy has severely damaged the national image and international reputation of the U.S.

The responsibilities of the so-called "Peace Committee" in Gaza, led by the United States, largely overlap with the United Nations' mandate to maintain international peace and security. Some 87.9 percent of respondents view this as an encroachment of the UN's functions. Furthermore, 82.2 percent criticize the U.S. for establishing international rules and order outside the framework of international law and the United Nations, and 86.6 percent believe that unilateralism under the "America First" policy is undergoing a comprehensive escalation.

The international community should work together to address the severe crisis of multilateralism. In the survey, 80.6 percent of respondents call on major countries to shoulder greater responsibilities and play a more constructive role, while 83.4 percent of respondents believe that the international community should accelerate the cultivation of a shared sense of community for the future of humanity and join hands in safeguarding the international system with the United Nations at its core.

The CGTN poll – published in English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian – received responses from 7,379 people within 24 hours.