Karen Hughes, one of the most prominent figures in the US administration, on Tuesday said that it would take “decades” to overcome the intense hostility around the world towards the US, arguing that Washington was at the early stages of “a long struggle” to improve its image.

Less than a week after announcing her departure from the state department as under-secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs, Ms Hughes acknowledged that opinion polls show the US is now viewed much less favourably by people in Pakistan, Turkey and Indonesia than in recent years.