How Will Global Leaders Respond to Trump’s Return to Office?

AFP/APP

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

Here are the first reactions, with many being expressed even before his election win was confirmed:

China: ‘mutual respect’ –

Without directly mentioning Trump, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing that China hopes 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: will judge ‘concrete steps’ –

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists he was unaware of any plans by Vladimir Putin to congratulate Trump since the US is an “unfriendly country.” “We will draw conclusions based on concrete steps and concrete words,” Peskov said.

Israel: ‘powerful recommitment’ –

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Trump’s win as “history’s greatest comeback!” “Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!” Netanyahu said in a statement.

Hamas: ‘blind support’ must end –

Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, told AFP that under Trump the United State’s “blind support for the Zionist entity must end because it comes at the expense of the future of our people and the security and stability of the region.”

Ukraine: hopes ‘just peace’ closer –

President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Donald 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 in a statement on social media.

NATO: ‘peace through strength’ –

NATO chief Mark Rutte congratulated Trump and said his return to power would help keep the alliance “strong.” “His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO,” Rutte said in a statement.