Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/368911
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 24 AUGUST 2014 14 70% approve German foreign policy Among five countries surveyed, Ger- man foreign policy is the only one to be rated positively by an absolute majority of Maltese. This could be an indication that most Maltese identify with the European Un- ion, of which Germany is the leading member. In the survey respondents were also asked to assess the foreign policy of the USA, Germany, China, Russia and Israel. Interestingly German foreign policy is judged more positively than that of the United States of America, a fellow NATO member and sole remaining su- per power. While 41% approve US foreign policy 37% are lukewarm, expressing a nu- anced so-so judgement. Yet only 6% give an outrightly nega- tive assessment of US foreign policy. This suggests that the Maltese have doubts on US foreign policies. The Maltese are equally lukewarm on China, with only 38% expressing a fa- vourable view of Chinese foreign poli- cies. But the Maltese are more likely to view China's foreign policy negatively. While only 6% assess the United States' foreign policy negatively, 19% assess China's foreign policy negatively. Not surprisingly the most negative ratings were registered by Russia and Israel, two nations currently involved in regional conflicts. Only 6% judged Israeli foreign policy positively while 47% judged it nega- tively. This suggests that the Maltese do not approve Israel's attack on Gaza, which has left more than 2,000 Palestinians (70% of them civilians) and 67 Israelis dead. Views on Russian foreign policy – dominated by the current crisis in the Ukraine – is slightly more nuanced with 13% approving its foreign policy and 39% disapproving it. Merkel preferred to Obama In another sign of positive views on Germany, Angela Merkel tops Maltese preferences from a list of six Prime Ministers and heads of state, who also included Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, British PM David Cameron, Chinese President Li Xinping, US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Merkel emerges from the survey 10 points more popular than second placed Barack Obama. Putin emerges from the survey as the least popular leader, with less than 2% of preferences. Curiously, Matteo Renzi was only cho- sen by 4% of respondents despite Italy's Mare Nostrum operation, which has practically relieved Malta of the per- ceived migration "burden". The Euro sceptic David Cameron, who in recent months has drifted towards more isolationist positions, is slightly more popular than Matteo Renzi. But this could also reflect the fact that Renzi has only been Prime Minister since Feb- ruary. Pro Palestine and Pro Ukraine While a relative majority of Mal- tese support a pro western stance on Ukraine, they are more likely to support the Palestinians despite the lukewarm support given by the United States to Israel. This suggests that the Maltese are not conditioned by cold war alignments in their views on international events. The survey shows that while 40% think that the Palestinians' stance is more jus- tified, only 7% think that Israel is in the right. But a substantial percentage of Mal- tese are non-committal. While 20% think neither side is right, 31% could not express an opinion. A small number of respondents (2%) think that both sides are right. With regard to the Ukraine only 11% think that Russia and the separatists in East Ukraine are most justified, 44% are in line with the position of the Ukrain- ian government, which is supported by the EU and the USA. Still, a substantial 38% replied, "don't know." Only 7% ex- pressed the view that both sides are in the wrong. The survey coincided with increased civilian casualties as the Ukrainian ar- my continued besieging towns in East Ukraine dominated by the separatists. Welcome to China, doubts on Dubai Although only 38% approve China's foreign policy, an overwhelming 60% expressed a positive view on the agree- ment through which a Chinese state owned company will buy a 33% stake in Enemalta in a deal which would see the Chinese company shoulder a part of the corporation's debt. This suggests that the Maltese are pragmatic when it comes to commercial relations with a power whose foreign policies they do not approve entirely. In fact only 26% expressed a negative view on Chinese investment in Enemal- ta. In view of the Prime Minister's recent declaration that he wants to turn Mal- ta into the next Dubai and Singapore, respondents were also asked whether Malta should emulate Dubai when it MaltaToday survey How the Maltese judge foreign policy 70% approve German foreign policy Among five countries surveyed, Ger- man foreign policy is the only one to be rated positively by an absolute majority of Maltese. Positively • Negatively • 'So and so' • Don't know USA China Russia Israel Germany Popularity power: according to MaltaToday's survey, the most trusted foreign leaders are German Chancellor and all-round Iron Lady Angela Merkel (39.1%) and United States President Barack Obama (29.3%) (top). Italy's and the United Kingdom's young prime ministers Matteo Renzi (4.4%) and David Cameron (5.7%) come right after, and on the lower end of the scale, heirs of communism Vladimir Putin (bottom left), and Chinese President Xi Jinping (bottom right), at 1.8% and 2.2% of trust rating respectively. Popularity power: according to MaltaToday's survey, the most trusted foreign leaders are German The world... as seen through the eyes of the Maltese 39.1% 29.3% 1.8% 2.2% 5.7% 4.4%