World Leaders Congratulate Biden, Focus On Unity

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:

– 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”.

– 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.”

– 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.

– 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.

AFP

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