Australians are increasingly wary of US interference, poll shows

Swati Pandey, Bloomberg News on Nov 17, 2025

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More than half of Australians are concerned about U.S. interference while support for defense spending has reached a new high, according to a nationwide poll that comes as friction mounts between the allies over issues such as trade.

The survey released Tuesday by the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney found that 54% of respondents are worried about U.S. influence on domestic affairs — a jump of nearly 20 percentage points since 2021. The increase has narrowed the gap, with concern over interference from China and Russia, which has remained steady at around 64%.

For the first time in the poll’s five-year history, more respondents believe the United States — at 57% — rather than China — at 51% — would force Australia to pick sides in the rivalry between the two. Nearly two-thirds of respondents think the second Trump presidency would make conflict with China more likely.

The poll found that 72% of Australians believe the U.S. uses trade to punish countries politically, up from 36% last year and surpassing China for the first time in the survey’s history.

“This is a striking shift that shows Australians are aware pressure can come from allies, as well as rivals,” said Elena Collinson, senior project and research officer at the Australia-China Relations Institute. “Broadly speaking, the poll shows Australians’ views of China have softened since 2021.”

The survey was conducted online among 2,045 adults and no margin of error was listed.

While the U.S. has called on Australia to boost defense spending and hit it with tariffs in Washington’s trade battles, the two countries have still worked to strengthen relations. President Donald Trump signed a landmark pact with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in October to boost America’s access to rare earths and other critical minerals and counter China’s tight grip on the supply chains of key metals.

Regional flashpoints remain a top concern. The South China Sea stands out as a key source of tension, with 72% of respondents saying China’s actions there endanger Australia’s interests. Most favor working with partners such as the Philippines, Japan and the U.S. — including through joint patrols — to maintain regional stability.

Support for higher military spending has climbed to 72%, the highest recorded in the poll.