World leaders react to Trump’s ‘impressive’ election victory

PARIS: World leaders raced to congratulate Donald Trump on Wednesday as he triumphed in a stunning US election victory over Kamala Harris.

European leaders in particular were quick to extend their best wishes and offers of cooperation, in contrast to a much cooler reaction when Trump won for the first time in 2016.

China

Without directly mentioning Trump, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China hoped for “peaceful coexistence” with the United States.

“We will continue to approach and handle China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation,” she said.

Russia

“We are under no illusions about the American president-elect,” Moscow´s foreign ministry said, adding that it would “work with” a new US administration and prioritise achieving its “set goals” in Ukraine.

Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Trump on his “impressive victory” and said he hoped his presidency would bring a “just peace in Ukraine closer”.

“I appreciate president Trump´s commitment to the ´peace through strength´ approach in global affairs,” Zelensky said on social media.

Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump´s win “history´s greatest comeback” and a “new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America”.

Nato

Nato chief Mark Rutte said Trump´s return to power would help keep the alliance “strong”, adding “I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through Nato”.

EU

“We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens,” European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X. “Let´s work together on a strong trans-Atlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them.”

United Nations

The UN is “ready to work constructively with the incoming administration to address the dramatic challenges our world is facing,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

Britain

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that “From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic.”

France

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was ready to work “with respect and ambition” with Trump, like “we managed to do for four years”.

He said their relationship would “take account of your convictions, and mine... For more peace and prosperity.”

Germany

Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Trump “we´re better off together”.

“Both sides benefit from the trans-Atlantic partnership,” he added. “The EU and the USA are two similarly large economic areas, linked by the closest economic relations in the world.”

Turkiye

Turkiye´s Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated “my friend Donald Trump”, adding that “I hope Turkey-US relations will strengthen, that regional and global crises and wars, especially the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will come to an end.”

Qatar

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, whose Gulf monarchy is a key mediator in the Gaza conflict, said he looked forward to “working together again in promoting security and stability both in the region and globally”.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia´s King Salman and his son, de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sent cables to Trump, with the king hailing “close relations between the two friendly countries and peoples, which everyone seeks to strengthen and develop in all fields”, the Saudi Press Agency said.

United Arab Emirates

UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also congratulated the Republican on his US election win.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan´s Taliban government on Wednesday said it hoped for a “new chapter” in relations with the United States after Donald Trump´s presidential election victory.