The "America First" policy cannot bring about a new "golden era" for the US and may further exacerbate the global governance deficit, said global respondents to an online survey who expressed concern over the new US administration's announcement to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization (WHO).
In a survey conducted by CGTN, 68.5 % respondents said the withdrawal will make global cooperation on climate and health issues more difficult, while 77.7 % respondents expressed concern that the US move will set a bad precedent in the international community. Some countries that do not want to reduce emissions or are facing pressures of economic transition may be influenced by the U.S. to take a negative approach to emissions reduction commitments or even follow suit and withdraw, undermining global efforts to address the real threat of climate change.
As the world's largest economy, the US is an important contributor to many key international organisations and governance mechanisms. Its frequent withdrawal from international organizations or agreements not only harms international multilateral cooperation, but also drains national credit and exposes domestic policy problems, according to survey respondents.
In the poll, 81.4 % respondents said they consider the actions of the new US administration to be irresponsible and feel disappointed. As many as 77.5 % respondents believe that it will diminish the US national credit and damage its international influence, while 78.4 % respondents consider the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the WHO as one of the new administration's measures to overcome the policies of the former administration, reflecting the increasingly serious bipartisan confrontation and political polarization in the country.
The U.S. has always viewed international organizations, institutions and mechanisms in a realistic and utilitarian manner, considering them as tools to achieve and maintain its global hegemony. Under the idea of "America First," the new U.S. administration seeks to force international organizations to make the U.S. back down on issues such as rule-making, operation of institutions, and governance reform through "disengagement from international agreements and organizations."
The survey shows that 81.6 % respondents believe that the US, by pursuing its own interests at the expense of international interests, is seriously undermining justice and equity in global governance and harming the legitimate interests of other countries. Given the current geopolitical conflicts and global challenges, 86.5 % respondents call on the international community to strengthen unity, genuine multilateralism, and joint action to address global challenges.
The poll was published on CGTN's English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian platforms and more than 7,452 people voted in 24 hours.
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