Trump wins 2024 election: World leaders say

Donald Trump is once again the next president of the United States, a move that promises to have a significant impact on the world order.

During his first term as president, from 2017 to 2021, Trump’s foreign policy was protectionist and transactional. He questioned the usefulness of alliances, alienated partners, and attempted complex diplomacy on his own. Mr. Trump’s methods have at times strained relations with the United States and made him a target of ridicule.

Throughout the campaign, he vowed to take a similar approach in a second term, threatening new blanket tariffs (even on allies) and hinting at changes to how the US works with NATO. He promised an early end to the war in Ukraine. Ahead of the presidential election, there were reports that some US allies were concerned about Trump’s victory. Now that he is back in the White House, world leaders across the political spectrum have expressed a range of reactions, from unwavering enthusiasm to modest optimism to silence. Here’s what they had to say:

Various responses in conflict areas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was one of the first world leaders to express his heartfelt congratulations to President Trump on his “historic” return to office. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media site Ta.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump forged a close relationship during Trump’s first term and have much in common. They are both nationalists and face significant legal obstacles to their leadership. President Trump is a convicted felon, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has so far successfully avoided conviction on corruption charges.

As president, Trump moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, tacitly affirming that the disputed city belongs to Israel and encouraging Arab countries to normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. It was a symbolic move to encourage change. Under the second Trump administration, support for Israel and Netanyahu is likely to increase. The prime minister has called for an end to the war in Gaza (which the Biden administration is supporting financially and diplomatically), but he has given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the green light to “do what needs to be done” in Gaza, and there is no longer any need to do so. It suggests that he doesn’t believe in war. Two-state solution.

President Trump has not had the same warm relations with Palestinian leaders, but the leaders have been more cautious in their statements. Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority, congratulated President Trump in a statement and said, “I am confident that under President Trump’s leadership, the United States will support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.” Hamas leaders were much more cautious, saying: “Our position with the new US administration depends on its position and practical actions towards the Palestinian people, their legitimate rights and cause.”

Ukraine currently has deep military ties with the United States. The United States has so far become Ukraine’s biggest security backer as the country continues its nearly three-year battle against full-scale Russian aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated President Trump and expressed his hopes for a second term.

“I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to a ‘peace through strength’ approach in world affairs,” President Zelensky wrote to X. “This is precisely the principle that could virtually bring Ukraine closer to a just peace.” I look forward to working with you to put this into action. ”

Cautious but optimistic response from allies

Other allies, particularly in Europe, responded with a range of cautious optimism.

NATO’s new chief, Mark Rutte, said he would work with President Trump to “advance peace through strength through NATO.”

President Trump’s attitude toward alliances, as well as broader international issues, is highly transactional. In his first term, he regularly disparaged the security alliance, complaining that European countries did not contribute enough financially, and by the end of his presidential term, he transferred one-third of U.S. troops from Germany. The nearby area was evacuated.

“Mr. Trump has long criticized America’s friends, partners, and allies for free-riding on national security and stealing jobs from the United States,” said James M. Lindsay, senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. ” he said. Vox.

European leaders, including the centrist French President Emmanuel Macron, the centre-left British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the right-wing Italian President Giorgia Meloni, all congratulated Mr. Trump and agreed to serve as President of the European Commission. Similarly, he expressed his desire to strengthen the transatlantic partnership in his second term. Ursula von der Leyen.

But President Trump’s tariff plans could put those aspirations to the test. He has said he intends to impose tariffs of up to 20% on most trading partners, including friendly countries. Anticipating a Trump victory, European Union leaders have been trying to prepare by proposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports. The United States is the EU’s biggest trading partner, and the EU’s economy was hurt by Trump’s tariffs on European steel and aluminum during his first term.

America’s adversaries remain silent

America’s adversaries, China and Russia, have not said much about Trump’s victory.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Trump has admired in the past, has not publicly congratulated Trump, nor has Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday, referring to U.S. aid to Ukraine, “We are talking about unfriendly countries that are directly or indirectly involved in a war against our country. ”, suggesting that an official congratulations was unlikely to be announced soon. . President Trump said he would end Russia’s war in Ukraine within 24 hours, but did not discuss how that was possible.

Although there are some signs that Russia and Ukraine may come to the negotiating table, Peskov was cautious about the role of the United States in making that happen.

“We have repeatedly said that the United States can help end this conflict,” he said. Once President Trump took office, he said, “We’ll see after January if that happens, and if that happens, what happens.”

President Xi has also not publicly congratulated President Trump. President Trump accused China of massive tariffs in 2018 and threatened to impose 60% tariffs on Chinese imports during his second term.

“We will continue to engage and manage China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press conference on Wednesday. Asked if Xi would call Trump to congratulate him on his victory, the ministry said it would “address related matters in accordance with normal practice” after the official announcement of the election results.