Donald Trump’s return to power has had an unintended consequence: it is boosting Beijing. A sweeping survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations reveals that the majority of the world—including key African nations like South Africa—now expects China to be the dominant global power within a decade.

The "America First" isolationism is alienating allies. In Europe, trust in the US security umbrella is eroding. In the Global South, China is increasingly viewed not as a rival, but as a necessary partner for development. "Trump is making the argument for a multipolar world better than Xi Jinping ever could," the report notes.

The African Perspective

For countries like Kenya, the survey confirms a strategic shift. While the US offers aid and security, China offers infrastructure and trade without moral lectures. As Washington turns inward, Beijing is stepping into the vacuum, reshaping the global order one road and bridge at a time.