Netanyahu and Zelenskyy among world leaders to congratulate Donald Trump

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WORLD LEADERS HAVE sent their congratulations to Donald Trump as he cements his victory in the US election. 

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that the body was ”ready to work constructively with the incoming administration to address the dramatic challenges our world is facing.”

Earlier this morning, Trump claimed that he won “a magnificent victory” during a speech in Florida, saying that he is going to “help our country heal”.

Trump’s expected foreign policy, especially when it comes to Ukraine and Palestine, has been a concern for many, and the parties to both conflicts have expressed a willingness to work with the new President.

Middle East

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered his congratulations to Trump, describing his 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, signing off the message “in true friendship”. 

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Hamas was more conservative in their announcement, saying that the group’s stance towards the new administration, saying what mattered was its “practical behaviour towards our Palestinian people, their legitimate rights and their just cause”.

“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,” they said.

Hezbollah’s new Secretary-General Naim Qassem said that the result will no impact on a potential ceasefire in the region.

“We don’t base our expectations for a halt of the aggression on political developments… Whether Harris wins or Trump wins, it means nothing to us,” he said in a pre-recorded speech before Trump announced his victory.

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

Congratulations also arrived from Saudi King Salman, and his son Mohammed bin-Salman.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he hoped Trump’s return to the White House could help bring peace to the Middle East.

Ukraine

Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelenskyy has also offered his congratulations to the Republican on his “impressive victory”. 

Zelenskyy recalled “our great meeting” with Trump in September, where they “discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine”. 

“I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the “peace through strength” approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together,” he said. 

“We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump’s decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States.”

He added that he was looking forward to personally congratulating Trump “and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine’s strategic partnership with the United States”.

Russian government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov meanwhile, 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,” he said.

Europe

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was looking forward to working with Trump in the years ahead. 

“As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise,” Starmer said. 

“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 for years to come.”

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

In a post on X, Macron said that the relationship with Trump would “take account of your convictions, and mine”, adding: “For more peace and prosperity.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his country would work for “prosperity and peace” with the new president.

“Germany and the USA have long been working together successfully to promote prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the benefit of our citizens,” he said.

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Italy’s far-right prime minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the “unshakeable” ties between her country and the US as she offered Trump her congratulations. 

“Italy and the United States are ‘sister’ nations, linked by an unshakeable alliance, common values and a historic friendship. It is a strategic bond which I am sure we will now strengthen even more,” she wrote on X.

However, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson struck a more negative tone than his European counterparts, saying that Trump’s win carried “existential risks” for Sweden, such as the potential for a lessening of US support for Ukraine.

“We take stock of the fact that the US is until now the single largest military aid donor to Ukraine. We don’t take it for granted,” he said.

Meanwhile, allies of Trump in Hungary and Slovakia welcomed his “much needed” victory.

“The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!” Hungarian President Viktor Orban posted on X.

In neighbouring Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico hailed the win of “conservative oriented” Trump.

“It is certainly a defeat of liberal and progressive ideas,” Fico told reporters at a press conference.

Speaking for the EU as a whole, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen “warmly congratulated” Trump in a post on X.

“We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. Let’s work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them.”

Nato leader Mark Rutte said Trump’s 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,” he said. 

America

Across the US’ northern border, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated his aim for the two countries to “work together”.

“The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world. I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations,” he said.

To the south, recently-elected Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the result was “no cause for concern” despite Trump’s threats of tariffs and mass migrant deportations.

“We are a free, independent, sovereign country and there will be good relations with the United States,” she told a news conference.

In Brazil, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva congratulated Trump, saying that”in a democracy, the voice of the people must always be respected”.

The left-wing President, who defeated one of Trump’s closest international allies, Jair Bolsonaro in 2022, had previously endorsed Kamala Harris, saying a victory for her would be “good for democracy”.

Meanwhile, Lula’s opponent and staunch Trump ally Bolsonaro issued a long statement welcoming the victory of his “friend” and the “resurgence of a true warrior.”

In the message, also posted on X, Bolsonaro described Trump as rising again after having faced a “brutal electoral process in 2020 and an unjustifiable judicial persecution”.

Asia

In China, officials expressed their hope for “peaceful co-existence” with the United States, without explicitly mentioning Trump.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that the country “respects the choice of the American people”, and expressed “our congratulations to Mr Trump on his election as president,” and would “continue to approach and handle China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation”.

Meanwhile in Taiwan, President Lai Ching-te explicitly congratulated Trump and expressed confidence that US-Taiwan relations would continue to “serve as a cornerstone for regional stability”.

Indian leader Narendra Modi offered his “heartiest congratulations” to his “friend” in a statement on X.

“As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration,” Modi said. 

“Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.”

Ireland

Taoiseach Simon Harris also offered his congratulations to Trump. 

“The people of the United States have spoken and Ireland will work to deepen and strengthen the historic and unbreakable bonds between our people and our nations in the years ahead,” he said in a post on X. 

Speaking last month, Harris said the Government would “obviously work and respond” to whatever the outcome of the US election was.

However, his coalition partner, Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman, said earlier this week that a Trump victory would be “would be a disaster for the US, Ireland and the planet”. 

With reporting from © AFP 2024.

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