Our ReporterWORLD leaders reacted to Bidens inauguration by offering congratulations, jockeying for position at the forefront of his foreign policy agenda, and in some cases pleading for the reversal of his predecessors policies.Among most messages was a palpable sense of relief, as the international community embraced Bidens pledge to re-enter a series of global pacts and organisations that President Donald Trump cut looseNigeriaPresident Muhammadu Buhari said the inauguration of the 46th President of the United States of America (USA), and his deputy, Kamala Harris, would be a strong point of cooperation between Nigeria and their country.In his congratulatory message to the new American Presidency, President Buhari expressed the hope that their coming would bring an era of great positivity between the two countries and indeed with the entire African continent.In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President congratulated the leaders, and entire country on the successful transition, which marks an important historical inflection point for democracy as a system of government and for the global community as a whole.We look forward to the Biden presidency with great hope and optimism for strengthening of existing cordial relationships, working together to tackle global terrorism, climate change, poverty and improvement of economic ties and expansion of trade.We hope that this will be an era of great positivity between our two nations, as we jointly address issues of mutual interest, the President added.President Buhari and all Nigerians rejoice with President Joe Biden, sharing the proud feeling that the first woman elected Vice President of the United States has an African and Asian ancestry.European UnionOnce again, after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday, leaving no uncertainty about her verdict on Trumps relationship with the bloc.This new dawn in America is the moment weve been waiting for so long. Europe is ready for a new start with our oldest and most trusted partner, she said in the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.Trump has trashed America's most important alliance. The rift with Europe could take decades to repairTrump has trashed Americas most important alliance. The rift with Europe could take decades to repairVon der Leyen said Bidens inauguration would be a message of healing for a deeply divided nation and it will be a message of hope for a world that is waiting for the US to be back in the circle of like-minded states.Biden has signalled a warmer partnership with Europe than Trump, who frequently criticised the EU on trade during his administration. His attacks on some European leaders led to frosty scenes at a number of summits.From our perspective, Trump saw Europe as an enemy, a senior European diplomat told CNN last week. The lasting impact of America First is the US having fewer friends in Europe.ChinaHours before the inauguration, Beijing expressed hope that Biden would look at China rationally and objectively to repair serious damage in bilateral ties caused by the Trump presidency.In the past four years, the US administration has made fundamental mistakes in its strategic perception of Chinainterfering in Chinas internal affairs, suppressing and smearing China, and causing serious damage to China-US relations, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a press briefing Wednesday.The Biden administration should, Hua said, look at China rationally and objectively, meet China halfway and, in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, push China-US relations back to the right track of healthy and stable development as soon as possible.One of the main planks of Trumps foreign policy platform has been his trade war with China. The Trump administrations 11th-hour declaration that China is committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims will heighten tensions with Beijing, though Bidens nominee for Secretary of State said Tuesday that he agreed with the designation.If the new US administration can adopt a more rational and responsible attitude in formulating its foreign policy, I think it will be warmly welcomed by everyone in the international community, she added.IranIrans President, Hassan Rouhani, called on Biden to return to the 2015 nuclear deal and lift US sanctions on Iran, overturning a key part of Trumps foreign policy program.The ball is in the US court now. If Washington returns to Irans 2015 nuclear deal, we will also fully respect our commitments under the pact, Rouhani said in a televised cabinet meeting.He also launched a scathing attack on the ex-President. A tyrants era came to an end and today is the final day of his ominous reign, Rouhani said of Trumps departure. Someone for whom all of his four years bore no fruit other than injustice and corruption and causing problems for his own people and the world.Biden has said he plans to return to the nuclear deal with Iran, which was signed when he was Barack Obamas Vice President. Bidens national security aides have suggested they would like further negotiations on Irans ballistic missile capabilities, though Rouhani has said the missile program is non-negotiable.GermanyThe German President said he was relieved that Biden would be sworn in Wednesday, calling it a good day for democracy.In the United States, (democracy) held up against a lot of pressure, Frank Walter Steinmeier said in a statement.Despite internal hostility, Americas institutions have proven strongelection workers, governors, judiciary, and Congress, he said. I am relieved that Joe Biden is sworn in as President today and coming into the White House. I know that this feeling is shared by many people in Germany.Steinmeier also warned against the populist brand of politics that Trump embraced. Despite all the joy we have about today, we must not forget that populism has seduced even the most powerful democracy in the world, he said. We must resolutely oppose polarization, protect and strengthen the public space of our democracies, and shape politics on the basis of reason and facts.United KingdomBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was looking forward to a close relationship with Bidens administration.In our fight against Covid and across climate change, defence, security and in promoting and defending democracy, our goals are the same and our nations will work hand in hand to achieve them, Johnson said in a statement Tuesday.Boris Johnson will hope to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with Bidens administration.Johnson warmly welcomed Trump on his visits to the UK, with Trump once claiming that the Prime Minister was nicknamed Britain Trump. But the outgoing US leader was unpopular among Britons, and Johnson will be keen to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with Biden.The new President could end up making two trips to the UK in 2021, with Johnson saying he looks forward to welcoming him to the G7 summit and to the hotly anticipated 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Only through international cooperation can we truly overcome the shared challenges which we face, Johnson said on Tuesday.Scotlands First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, was more blunt in her remarks in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday. Sturgeon wished Biden and Kamala Harris well, adding: Im sure many of us across the chamber and across Scotland will be very happy to say cheerio to Donald Trump today.I think dont haste ye back might be the perfect rejoinder to him, she added.MexicoMexicos President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador, wished Biden well ahead of his inauguration on Wednesday.During his daily briefing, Lpez Obrador outlined three themes as key areas of the bilateral relationship with the US. Those three themes are very important: pandemic, economic recovery and migration, he said.Lpez Obrador also said Biden should take steps to settle the immigration status of Mexicans working in the U.S.
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