Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UK’s Keir Starmer were among the first world leaders to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election.
The election of a new president is not only a big deal in the US – a new leader in the White House can change the country’s foreign policy and its attitude to its friends and enemies around the world.
Here’s how some world leaders have responded so far.
In his statement, Netanyahu – who has a difficult relationship with President Joe Biden – spoke of “the greatest comeback in history”, adding that Trump’s return to office offers “a new beginning for America, a strong commitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.”.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “I look forward to working with Trump in the coming years.”
He added: “From growth and security to innovation and technology, I know that the special UK-US relationship will continue to flourish on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban – who is very close to Trump – said his election was “a much-needed victory in the world”.
“The greatest comeback in US political history!” he wrote in a post to X.
Orban has already publicly accepted Mr Trump’s bid for re-election, after becoming the first and only EU leader to endorse him in 2016.
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said Trump’s victory was “a defeat for liberal and progressive ideas”. He added that the election is also a confirmation that “you can never trust the media and the polls”.
French President Emmanuel Macron also congratulated Trump, saying he was ready to work with him as before, “with respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity”.
Macron also said he had talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, about working to protect European interests and values while cooperating with the US.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said “Germany and the US have long worked together successfully to promote prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic”.
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said Trump’s leadership “will once again be key to keeping our alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to promote peace through NATO”.
Donald Trump has been critical of the Nato alliance, accusing its European allies of not paying enough for security.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X: “I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to a ‘peace by force’ approach to world affairs. This is the very policy that can bring peace to Ukraine.”
Trump has promised to push Zelensky to cut a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which could involve losing territory. Ukraine fears it will reduce US military and financial support.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni said that Italy and the US “are linked by an unshakable alliance, common values and historic friendship. It is a strategic bond, which I am sure will now strengthen even more.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also congratulated Trump on X: “We will work on our bilateral strategic partnership and a strong transatlantic relationship.”
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said Ireland would “work to deepen and strengthen the historic and unbreakable bonds between our people and nations in the years to come”.
In her congratulatory message to Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU and the US are “more than friends”.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also congratulated Trump on X, saying the pair “will work together to create more opportunities, prosperity and security for both of our nations”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was “not aware of the president’s plans to congratulate Trump on the election”, as the US is “an unfriendly country”.
He added that Russia will judge Trump by his actions: “We will reach conclusions based on concrete steps and concrete words.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry also said in a statement that Moscow will remain focused on achieving the goals of what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine.
Iranian government spokesman Fatemeh Mohajerani said the lives of Iranians will not be affected by the US election, according to the unofficial Tasnim news agency.
Trump may reverse his “great pressure policy” by imposing sanctions on Iran’s oil industry and giving Israel the ability to strike its nuclear sites, Arab and Western officials told Reuters news agency.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Trump, describing him as a friend in X: “As you build on the success of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our cooperation to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.”
“Let us work together for the betterment of our people and promote world peace, stability and prosperity.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan also called Trump a friend – the two had a good relationship during Trump’s first term.
“I hope that the relations between Turkey and the US will strengthen, that the regional and international problems and wars, especially the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will end,” he said.
Argentine President Javier Milei congratulated Trump on his “remarkable election victory. Now, Make America Great Again. You know you can count on Argentina to do your job.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Alabanese said the US “has long played a leadership role in the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific. Australia will strive to strengthen cooperation between our two nations in the region.”
During a regular press conference, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning said “the US presidential election is their domestic affairs. We respect the choice of the American people”.
Trump has threatened to impose heavy trade tariffs on Chinese goods entering the US, and may pressure Europe to divest more from China’s economy.
Speaking to reporters, Director-General of Taiwan’s National Security Bureau Tsai Ming-yen said: “In Taiwan Strait relations, we believe that the US will continue its current policy of coercing China and being friendly with Taiwan.”
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said of Trump’s election, “the American people have won, and I congratulate them on their victory in a mission that showed the world the strength of American values.”
There has been no official statement from North Korea, but analysts believe that Kim Jong Un is invested in the outcome of the US election, because he may reopen the possibility of negotiations.
Kim held three historic meetings with Trump during his presidency. Before the first summit, he announced that Pyongyang would stop missile and nuclear tests.
Since those talks failed, the sovereign country has continued to expand its nuclear weapons program, despite UN sanctions.
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