Arab youth now view the United States primarily as an adversary, according to an annual survey of 18-24 year olds in 16 Arab states.
Why it matters: The U.S. has held a presence in many of these countries for years, but the latest ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey reveals a dramatic shift in how youth in the region view America: 57% of those surveyed this year see the U.S. as an enemy, and 35% consider the U.S. an ally. That's almost a complete reversal of the numbers from 2016.
The Trump factor: 73% of Arab youth said President Trump's election has had a negative impact on their countries. And more youth trust Russia than the United States, as the Kremlin builds up its presence in the region.
Asked who their country's top international ally is, the youths were most likely to pick the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, and Egypt. The U.S. fell out of the top five for the first time in the survey's history.
About the survey: 3,500 18-24 years olds from 16 countries were surveyed, with an even split of men and women. Countries included are grouped into the GCC (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE), North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia), and the Levant + Other (Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories).