World leaders congratulated President Donald Trump on his inauguration Monday, with many urging stronger alliances or continued cooperation between their countries and the United States, in carefully crafted social media posts and statements. <\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s return to the White House portends a seismic shakeup in international relations, with the new president immediately ordering the US\u2019 withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and World Health Organization, as world leaders brace for new tariffs on goods and the impact of Trump\u2019s \u201cAmerica first\u201d agenda. <\/p>\n
Some populist leaders celebrated Trump\u2019s return, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called the US president a \u201cdear friend,\u201d and Hungary\u2019s Victor Orb\u00e1n who declared, \u201cnow it\u2019s our turn to shine.\u201d <\/p>\n
But not all the messages were congratulatory. <\/p>\n
Some leaders expressed their anger at remarks Trump made during his Inauguration Day speech, or with the controversial raft of executive actions he signed almost immediately after entering the Oval Office. <\/p>\n
Panama\u2019s President Jos\u00e9 Ra\u00fal Mulino rejected Trump\u2019s promise that the US would be \u201ctaking back\u201d the Panama Canal. The vital waterway in Central America was built by the US but is now controlled by Panama. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Canal is and will continue to be Panama\u2019s,\u201d Mulino reiterated in a statement. \u201cThere is no presence of any nation in the world that interferes with our administration,\u201d he added, apparently referring to Trump\u2019s claim that China is \u201coperating\u201d the canal. <\/p>\n
Other regional neighbors were also critical of Trump. <\/p>\n
Cuba condemned Trump\u2019s decision to put the Communist-run island back on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, with its president calling the move, \u201can act of arrogance and disregard for the truth.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not surprising. His goal is to continue strengthening the cruel economic war against Cuba for the purpose of domination,\u201d Cuban President Miguel D\u00edaz-Canel wrote on X. <\/p>\n
Cuba\u2019s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez also issued a scathing response to the decision, saying Trump was \u201cdrunk with arrogance.\u201d <\/p>\n
But outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau struck a more conciliatory tone, despite Trump\u2019s recent jibes about making Canada the 51st US state and indication that he will impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico on February 1. <\/p>\n
Trudeau congratulated Trump and said Canada looks forward to working with the new administration, \u201cwhile protecting and defending the interests of Canadians.\u201d <\/p>\n
Trump repeatedly signaled his wish to end the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine during his campaign and major players in both conflicts have adjusted their positions accordingly in the months since his November election victory. <\/p>\n
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement that \u201cthe best days of our alliance are yet to come.\u201d He also thanked Trump for his assistance in brokering Israel\u2019s ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas. <\/p>\n
\u201cYour first term as President was filled with groundbreaking moments,\u201d Netanyahu said. \u201cI\u2019m confident that we will complete the defeat of Iran\u2019s terror axis and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for our region.\u201d <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed openness to rebuilding relations with the new US administration, saying he welcomed statements from Trump and his team \u201cexpressing a desire to restore direct contact with Russia.\u201d <\/p>\n
Trump on Monday said he plans to meet Putin once talks are set up, a process he said was already underway. <\/p>\n
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been trying to win over Trump and convince him to continue US military assistance as Kyiv fends off Moscow\u2019s invasion, said Trump\u2019s inauguration was a day of \u201cchange\u201d and \u201chope.\u201d <\/p>\n
He also praised Trump\u2019s \u201cpeace through strength policy,\u201d saying it provides an opportunity to achieve \u201ca long-term and just peace.\u201d <\/p>\n
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said, \u201cWith President Trump back in office we will turbo-charge defense spending and production.\u201d Trump previously said he would encourage Russia to do \u201cwhatever the hell they want\u201d to any NATO member country that doesn\u2019t meet spending guidelines and would not offer such a country US protection. <\/p>\n
Several Asian leaders also took to social media to congratulate Trump, expressing hopes for continued alliances. US security and military assistance to countries in the Asia-Pacific has been a cornerstone of previous administrations\u2019 foreign policy, which has centered around countering an increasingly assertive China. <\/p>\n
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in a post on X that he looks \u201cforward to collaborating with you to reinforce the enduring Japan-US partnership and jointly pursue our shared goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific.\u201d <\/p>\n
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te offered his \u201csincere congratulations\u201d to Trump and Vice President JD Vance, saying \u201cTaiwan looks forward to working with your administration to promote enduring freedom, peace and prosperity around the world.\u201d <\/p>\n
In Europe, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated Trump on X, saying, \u201cFor a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens.\u201d <\/p>\n
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, \u201cthe special relationship between the UK and the US will continue to flourish for years to come.\u201d <\/p>\n
Starmer recently criticized those \u201cspreading lies and misinformation\u201d about child sex grooming gangs in the UK, responding to Elon Musk, the world\u2019s richest man and Trump adviser, who had accused the prime minister of being \u201ccomplicit in the rape of Britain\u201d over historic child sex abuse in parts of England. <\/p>\n
European Union leaders also looked to strengthen the transatlantic partnership with the US. <\/p>\n
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, \u201cthe EU looks forward to working closely with you to tackle global challenges,\u201d while European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in an address to the legislature that the future \u201cwill not be without its challenges.\u201d <\/p>\n
Leaders and diplomats in the Middle East also expressed hope for closer relations with the US. <\/p>\n
Syria\u2019s de facto leader, the former rebel chief Ahmed al-Sharaa, said, \u201cWe are confident that (Trump) is the leader to bring peace to the Middle East and restore stability to the region.\u201d <\/p>\n
Al-Sharaa, better known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, became the de facto head of Syria\u2019s interim government after his Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), toppled longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad in December. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe look forward to improving the relations between our two countries based on dialogue and understanding,\u201d he said in a statement \u201con behalf of the New Administration of Syria.\u201d <\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia\u2019s Ambassador to the US Reema Bandar Al-Saud posted photos from the inauguration in Washington on her X account, including of her meeting Trump. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs our two nations celebrate 80 years of friendship, it was my honor to convey our leadership\u2019s heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,\u201d she wrote. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe relationship between our two countries is historic and we look forward to continuing our work together for the benefit of both our peoples, our region, and the world.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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