PARIS, Nov 8, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – World leaders rushed to congratulate US
president-elect Joe Biden, with many expressing hopes of unity and
cooperation following four years of explosive Donald Trump diplomacy.
While Trump refused to accept the results of the election, many world
leaders made it clear they backed the announcement that Biden had won with
running mate Kamala Harris:
– Germany –
“Congratulations!” said Chancellor Angela Merkel. “I wish luck and success
from the bottom of my heart.
“Our transatlantic friendship is irreplaceable if we want to overcome the
great challenges of our times,” she said in a tweet issued by a government
spokesman.
– France –
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: “The Americans have chosen their
President. Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris! We have a lot to do
to overcome today’s challenges. Let’s work together!”
– Britain – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated Biden “on
his election as President of the United States and Kamala Harris on her
historic achievement.
“The US is our most important ally and I look forward to working closely
together on our shared priorities, from climate change to trade and
security.”
– Ireland –
Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheal Martin was one of the first to take to
Twitter, tweeting: “I want to congratulate the new President Elect of the USA
@JoeBiden. Joe Biden has been a true friend of this nation throughout his
life and I look forward to working with him in the years ahead. I also look
forward to welcoming him back home when the circumstances allow!”
– Greece –
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted: “Congratulations to US
President-Elect @JoeBiden. Joe Biden has been a true friend of Greece and I’m
certain that under his presidency the relationship between our countries will
grow even stronger.”
– Italy –
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte tweeted: “We are ready to work with the
President-elect @JoeBiden to make the transatlantic relationship stronger.
The US can count on Italy as a solid Ally and a strategic partner.”
– Spain –
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted: “Congratulations @JoeBiden and
@KamalaHarris. We wish you good luck and all the best. We are looking forward
to cooperating with you to tackle the challenges ahead of us.”
– Israel –
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close Trump ally, called
Biden a “great friend of Israel”, congratulating him and Harris on their
victory.
He tweeted: “I look forward to working with both of you to further
strengthen the special alliance between the US and Israel.”
– Iraq –
President Barham Saleh extended “warmest congratulations” to Biden,
describing him as “a friend and trusted partner in the cause of building a
better Iraq. We look forward to working to achieve our common goals and
strengthening peace and stability in the entire Middle East”.
– Egypt –
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt, the most populous Arab country,
looked forward to “strengthening strategic bilateral ties between Egypt and
the US in the interest of both countries and peoples”.
– Jordan – The King of Jordan, Abdullah II, tweeted his congratulations to
the pair: “I look forward to working with you on further advancing the solid
historic partnership between Jordan and the United States, in the interest of
our shared objectives of peace, stability and prosperity.”
– Palestinian territories –
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas called on Biden to “strengthen”
relations between the Palestinians and Washington, which collapsed under
Trump.
– Canada –
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “I look forward to working
with President-elect Biden, Vice President-elect Harris, their
administration, and the United States Congress as we tackle the world’s
greatest challenges together.”
– Australia –
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison wished Biden and Harris “every
success”.
“The Australia-US Alliance is deep and enduring, and built on shared
values. I look forward to working with you closely as we face the world’s
many challenges together,” he said on Twitter.
– New Zealand –
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, a popular leader who had
verbally jousted with Trump, congratulated Biden and Harris in a tweet
focused on cooperation.
“With so many issues facing the international community, your message of
unity is one we share. New Zealand looks forward to working with you both!”
– Indonesia –
Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed his “warmest congratulations” to
Biden and Harris. He said: “The huge turn out is a reflection of the hope
placed on democracy.”
– Japan –
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga focused his congratulatory message
on security issues.
“Warm congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. I look forward to
working with you to further strengthen the Japan-US Alliance and ensure
peace, freedom, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” Suga
wrote on Twitter.
– South Korea –
South Korean President Moon Jae-in tweeted: “Congratulations to @JoeBiden
and @KamalaHarris. Our alliance is strong and the bond between our two
countries is rock-solid. I very much look forward to working with you for our
shared values.”
– India – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Biden’s win as
“spectacular” while highlighting Harris’s Indian heritage.
“Your success is pathbreaking, and a matter of immense pride not just for
your chittis, but also for all Indian-Americans,” Modi said in a tweet to
Harris.
“Chitti” is a Tamil term of endearment for the younger sisters of one’s
mother, which Harris used in her acceptance of the Democratic nomination for
vice president.
– Afghanistan – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said ties between Kabul and
Washington would deepen over counterterrorism as he congratulated Biden.
“Afghanistan looks forward to continuing/deepening our multilayered
strategic partnership w/ the United States — our foundational partner —
including in counterterrorism & bringing peace to Afghanistan,” Ghani wrote
on Twitter.
– Nigeria –
President Muhammadu Buhari, leader of Africa’s most populous nation, called
for “greater engagement” with the continent.
He said he looked forward to “enhanced cooperation between Nigeria and the
United States, especially at economic, diplomatic and political levels,
including especially on the war against terrorism”.
– South Africa –
President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Twitter his government looked forward to
“working with you and deepening our bonds of friendship and cooperation”.
– Mexico –
However, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said it was too soon
to congratulate Biden and he would wait for “all legal issues” in the US
election to be resolved.
“We don’t want to be imprudent. We don’t want to act lightly and we want to
respect people’s self-determination and rights,” Lopez Obrador, who has had
good relations with Trump, told reporters.
– NATO –
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg described Biden as a “strong supporter of our
Alliance”.
Stoltenberg, who often had to adapt to Trump making unexpected
announcements about US troop drawdowns from NATO deployments, said in a tweet
he looked forward to working with Biden.
“A strong NATO is good for both North America and Europe,” he said.