[ad_1]
WORLD LEADERS HAVE welcomed the election of Joe Biden as President of the United States as an opportunity to enhance cooperation on climate change, the coronavirus pandemic and other issues after four years of rejection of international alliances by of Donald Trump.
Trump had yet to admit defeat, but Western and Asian allies expressed hope for a new beginning following his “America First” trade policies, the withdrawal of the Paris climate accord, and attacks on NATO and the World Organization. health.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin congratulated Biden on his victory.
Martin said he wanted to offer “warmest congratulations to Joe Biden on his election as the 46th President of the United States.”
“Ireland is proud of the election of Joe Biden, just as we are proud of all generations of Irish men and women and their ancestors whose work and genius have enriched the diversity that drives America,” said Martin.
This is a particularly special day for the people of County Louth and County Mayo, who count President-elect Biden among their number.
“Joe Biden has always been a staunch friend and supporter of Ireland, including the prosperity, stability and opportunity that made possible the Good Friday Agreement, to which he has pledged his constant and constant support.
“I also want to congratulate Kamala Harris on her election as Vice President and acknowledge the tremendous importance of her election to the position,” he said.
“I am looking forward to working with the new Administration in the next period in advancing international peace and security.”
“I also intend to work closely with the new administration and the United States Congress to carry out comprehensive immigration reform, an issue that is so important to tens of thousands of Irish that they make a significant contribution to America. “.
President Michael D. Higgins said that “I have conveyed my best wishes to President-elect Joe Biden, wishing him and the American people every good fortune during his tenure and congratulating him, and congratulating Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on his historic achievement.” .
“Sabina and I, and the Áras an Uachtaran staff, have the best memories of Joe Biden’s two visits to us,” Higgins said.
Foreign
In Asia, a region on the brink of the strategic ambitions of the ruling Communist Party of China, the elected leaders of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan invoked “shared values” with Washington and expressed hope for close relations.
“I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the Japan-United States Alliance and ensure peace, freedom and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Twitter.
President Moon Jae-in of South Korea said he looked forward to working together “for our shared values.”
Source: Moon Jae-in/Twitter
There was no immediate official reaction from Beijing, which is mired in conflicts with the Trump administration over trade, security and technology.
But Chinese social media users welcomed the change. A post on the Sina Weibo microblogging service, signed by Gong Teng Xin Yi, read: “Congratulations to Biden, the old friend of the Chinese people, for winning the election.”
After Trump said he won “by a lot”, the Communist Party newspaper People’s Daily responded on Twitter: “Haha.”
President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, the autonomous island that Beijing claims as part of its territory, expressed her hope to “promote our friendship.”
Biden had congratulated Tsai on her re-election in January, saying that Taiwan is “stronger because of its free and open society.” Washington has no formal relations with Taiwan, but Trump raised the profile of informal contacts by sending cabinet officials to the island, an act that irritated Beijing.
There was also no immediate reaction from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was a friend of Trump. Other leaders who supported Trump, including President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, congratulated Biden and indicated that they rejected Trump’s claim that the elections were not over.
Most Western allies welcomed a new beginning with Washington. Many have been dismayed by Trump’s criticism of decades-old military and economic alliances.
“We want to work on our cooperation for a new transatlantic beginning, a New Deal,” said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Twitter.
Others expressed hope that Biden could reactivate cooperation on health, climate and other issues following Trump’s rejection of the trade deal proposed by the Trans-Pacific Partnership and pressure on Canada, Mexico, South Korea and other partners to renegotiate trade terms. .
“I look forward to working with President-elect Biden, Vice President-elect Harris, their administration and the United States Congress as we address the world’s greatest challenges together,” said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was the target of personal insults. of Trump.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters that he expected a “great partnership” with Washington. He cited challenges including the coronavirus and “ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” a reference to China’s disputes with its neighbors over control of vast stretches of ocean.
“American leadership is indispensable in meeting these challenges,” Morrison said.
Source: Scott morrison/Twitter
Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan said he looked forward to working together to end illegal tax havens and peace in Afghanistan.
Other leaders who sent congratulations were German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi.
The harassed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his US-backed rival Juan Guaido congratulated Biden and Harris. Maduro said that Venezuela, which is under severe US sanctions designed to force him to leave office, was “ready for dialogue and understanding” with the United States.
The election result drew mixed reviews in Iraq, where Biden is remembered as a champion of the 2003 US invasion. Still, Iraqi President Barham Salih described Biden as a trusted friend and partner.
Congratulations also came from leaders who got along with Trump but ignored his claims that the election was not over.
Duterte of the Philippines, who had said that Filipino-Americans “would get the best deal with Trump,” expressed hope that ties based on a “shared commitment to democracy, freedom and the rule of law” will be strengthened. .
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, close to Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, expressed his best wishes to Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Twitter.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, known for his public displays of bonhomia with Trump, shared a photo of himself with Biden and offered his congratulations “on his spectacular victory.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, another Trump ally, said he looked forward to “working closely on our shared priorities, from climate change to trade to security.”
Source: Boris johnson/Twitter
Harris’s election inspired calls in parts of Africa for more women in government.
“The time has also come to give our women the opportunity to hold such a high post in our country and even the number one position,” said a Nigerian cabinet minister, Festus Keyamo, on Twitter.
No news is bad news
Support the magazine
your contributions help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you
Support us now
Others expressed hope that Biden will help heal divisions in American society and global politics.
“He seems willing to accept people’s different points of view and wants to move forward together,” said Mika Goto, an employee at a nursery school in Tokyo.
Silence
While overt disappointment was scant, several prominent leaders who have maintained warm relations with the Trump administration were silent.
That included President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said he would wait “until all the issues are resolved.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose Twitter profile photo shows him sitting next to Trump, described Biden as a friend of Israel and said he looked forward to working with him and Harris to “strengthen the special alliance” between their countries. In a separate statement, he thanked Trump for elevating relations between the United States and Israel to “unprecedented heights.”
Many people, particularly in nations with turbulent politics, took Biden’s victory as improving prospects for respect for democracy.
Among them was the leader of the Tanzanian opposition, Zitto Kabwe, who was arrested and charged with terrorism-related crimes after his country’s hard-hitting presidential elections.
“This victory symbolizes the hope of democracy at a time when many other parts of the world are seeing that light diminish,” said KMr abwe.
The result inspired disbelief in Slovenia, the homeland of first lady Melania Trump. Prime Minister Janez Jansa was the only leader to congratulate Trump even before all the votes were counted and showed support after Biden’s victory was announced.
[ad_2]