Shifting Leadership Perceptions in NATO: US Declines, China Gains The latest Statista report based on Gallup data points to a significant geopolitical shift within the NATO alliance: US Losing Ground: Between 2024-2025, the average approval rating for US leadership across 31 NATO countries dropped by 14 points to 21%. Germany (-39 points) and Portugal (-38 points) saw the steepest declines. China on the Rise: Approval for Chinese leadership increased by 8 points to 22%, catching up with (and slightly surpassing) the US for the first time in this context. The Türkiye Exception: Türkiye was the only NATO member where approval for US leadership increased (+12 points), while also showing the largest surge in approval for China (+21 points). What does this trend signal for the future of the Western alliance?