Anthony Albanese ands Keir Starmer lead tributes to Joe Biden

As global leaders praised the diplomacy of Joe Biden; Russia and Japan were careful to avoid endorsing future leaders, instead ‘monitoring’ changes abroad.

US President Joe Biden meets British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on July 10. Picture: AFP

World leaders paid tribute to US President Joe Biden after he announced the end of his re-election run, while making sure to avoid comments on the likely clash of party favourites Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

Ahead of President Biden’s departure in January, the US’s Five Eyes allies eulogised key achievements in co-operation with the Biden administration.

“The Australia-US alliance has never been stronger, with our shared commitment to democratic values, international security, economic prosperity and climate action,” Anthony Albanese said on Twitter/X, after a press conference on Monday, where he spoke on the announcement. “Thank you for your leadership and ongoing service President Biden.”

I respect President Biden's decision and I look forward to us working together during the remainder of his presidency.

I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, he will have made his decision based on what he believes is best for the American people. https://t.co/SCxFFtyl73

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 21, 2024

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Mr Biden had made his choice to rescind his nomination “based on what he believes is best for the American ­people”.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon paid tribute to the Democratic leader’s decades of service to congress.

“I’ve known President Biden for years. He’s a great man, and everything he does is guided by his love for his country,” Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said.

“As President, he is a partner to Canadians – and a true friend.”

Thank you for your leadership and ongoing service President Biden. The Australia-US Alliance has never been stronger with our shared commitment to democratic values, international security, economic prosperity and climate action for this and future generations. https://t.co/gkAggLguAj

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 21, 2024

At the time of publication, no diplomats on behalf of Beijing had acknowledged the shift, but a spokesperson for the Kremlin said it would “carefully monitor” the US election while prioritising the war in Ukraine.

“The elections are four months away, and … a lot can change,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. “We (will) carefully monitor what happens. The priority for us is the special military operation.” The Kremlin has used the term “special military operation” to refer to its invasion of Ukraine since the conflict began.

Anthony Albanese reflected on the progression of US-Australia relations under the Biden administration. Picture: AFP

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Mr Biden. “Many strong decisions have been made in recent years and they will be remembered as bold steps taken by President Biden in response to challenging times,” he said on Twitter/X. “Ukraine is grateful to President Biden for his unwavering support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom.”

Ukraine is grateful to President Biden for his unwavering support for Ukraine's fight for freedom, which, along with strong bipartisan support in the United States, has been and continues to be critical.

Many strong decisions have been made in recent years and they will be…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 21, 2024

Fellow wartime President Isaac Herzog praised Mr Biden ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s likely contentious visit to congress. “As the first US President to visit Israel in wartime, as a recipient of the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour, and as a true ally of the Jewish people, he is a symbol of the unbreakable bond between our two peoples,” he said.

“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Joe Biden for his friendship and steadfast support for the Israeli people over his decades-long career.”

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the country would be “communicating closely” with US officials and would “keep a close eye on future movements”.

The Philippines’ Ferdinand Marcos Jr called the Biden decision a “demonstration of genuine statesmanship”.