World leaders react to Joe Biden’s victory: ‘Welcome back America’
- In his four years as president, Donald Trump upended decades of accepted American foreign policy
- Joe Biden has promised a more multilateral approach, leveraging relationships with allies in Europe and Asia
Trump had yet to concede defeat, but Western and Asian allies expressed hoped for a fresh start following Trump’s “American First” trade policies, withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement and attacks on Nato and the World Health Organization.
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‘Welcome back America’: world leaders react to Joe Biden’s victory in US elections
In Asia, a region on edge about the strategic ambitions of China’s ruling Communist Party, the elected leaders of Japan and South Korea invoked “shared values” with Washington and expressed hope for close relations.
“I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the Japan-US Alliance and ensure peace, freedom, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” said Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Twitter. President Moon Jae-in of South Korea said he looked forward to working together “for our shared values.”
Word of the victory in Pennsylvania that pushed Barack Obama’s former vice-president past the threshold of 270 Electoral College votes needed to take over the Oval Office spread around the globe, sparking celebrations.
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Joe Biden declares ‘clear victory’ after tight US 2020 presidential race
There also was no immediate reaction from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was friendly with Trump. Other leaders who supported Trump including President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines congratulated Biden, indicating they rejected Trump’s claim the election wasn’t over.