US Election: allies ready to confront challenges

US allies wasted no time in congratulating Joe Biden on his projected victory.

Donald Trump plays a round at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, as . news emerged of the Biden victory. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

US allies wasted no time in congratulating Joe Biden on his projected victory, as the president-elect vowed to restore America’s global role following President Donald Trump’s chaotic four years in power.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has had especially tense relations with Mr Trump, sent congratulations to Mr Biden and called the transatlantic relationship “irreplaceable”.

“Congratulations!” Mrs Merkel said in a tweet issued by a government spokesman. “I wish luck and success from the bottom of my heart. Our transatlantic friendship is irreplaceable if we want to overcome the great challenges of our times.”

French President Emmanuel Macron told Mr Biden he wanted to “work together”, while Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote pointedly on Twitter, “Welcome back America!”

“The Americans have chosen their President. Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris! We have a lot to do to overcome today’s challenges. Let’s work together!” Mr Macron tweeted.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whom the outgoing US President has fondly called the “Britain Trump”, also turned the page, calling for co-operation with Mr Biden on trade and climate change. “The US is our most ­important ally and I look forward to working closely together on our shared priorities, from climate change to trade and security,” Mr Johnson said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has also had comparatively warm relations with Mr Trump, congratulated Mr Biden and vice-president-elect Kamala Harris, whose mother was from India, saying her win was a source of “immense pride”.

Congratulations also came from the EU, Canada and New Zealand, where Prime Minister ­Jacinda Ardern wished well to “outgoing President Donald Trump”.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin was one of the first to take to Twitter, tweeting: “I want to congratulate the new President Elect of the USA @JoeBiden. Joe Biden has been a true friend of this nation throughout his life and I look forward to working with him in the years ahead. I also look forward to welcoming him back home when the circumstances allow!”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “I look forward to working with president-elect Biden, vice president-elect Harris, their administration, and the ­United States congress as we tackle the world’s greatest challenges together.”

The only international leader immediately to take a different tone was Prime Minister Janez Jansa of tiny Slovenia, the birthplace of Mr Trump’s wife, Melania, who criticised media projections and noted that Mr Trump’s campaign has lodged legal challenges.

Israeli Prime Minister and close Trump ally Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Mr Biden on his election victory on Sunday, calling the US president-elect “a great friend of Israel”.

“I look forward to working with both of you to further strengthen the special alliance between the US and Israel,” Mr Netanyahu tweeted, referring to Mr Biden and senator Harris.

Mr Netanyahu, whose Twitter account features a picture of himself seated next to Mr Trump, said he and Mr Biden had “a long and warm personal relationship for nearly 40 years, and I know you as a great friend of Israel.”

The Israeli leader had ­described Mr Trump as his country’s strongest-ever ally in the White House, and the Republican advanced policies that delighted Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing base.

Mr Trump unilaterally pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — an agreement between Tehran and world powers loathed by Mr Netanyahu — and recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided” capital.

Mr Netanyahu, along with his defence and foreign ministers, had been criticised the previous evening by opposition leader Yair Lapid for not congratulating Mr Biden on his victory in a timely manner.

“The fact that Netanyahu, (Benny) Gantz and (Gabi) Ashkenazi have yet to congratulate the US president-elect is shameful cowardice that harms Israel’s ­interest,” Mr Lapid tweeted. “If the president of France, the chancellor of Germany and prime minister of Britain can do so, you can too.”

AFP