What world leaders are saying about Obama’s second term post-Election 2012
America has spoken. President Barack Obama was elected to a second term, beating out Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. But what are world leaders saying about working with President Obama over the next four years?
Here’s a round-up of reactions, as collected by Reuters.
More reactions: Reuters Factbox — World leaders respond to Obama election victory
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- Reuters — Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hoped Obama’s re-election would have a positive impact on relations with the United States, which have been strained by differences over issues ranging from missile defense to human rights and the conflict in Syria. “We express hope that the positive beginnings in bilateral relations and in international cooperation between Russian and the United States, in the interest of international security, will develop and improve,” Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told Interfax news agency. (Paul Hackett/Reuters)
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- Reuters — President Asif Ali Zardari called Obama’s re-election a clear reaffirmation of his leadership and expressed hope that U.S.-Pakistan ties, which have been strained, would prosper. “The president said that he looked forward to working closely with President Obama towards the shared objective of peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region,” an official statement said. (Michael Nagle/Getty Images)
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- Reuters — British Prime Minister David Cameron said the United States and Britain should make solving the Syrian crisis a priority following Obama’s re-election, as well as push for an EU-U.S. trade deal over the next four years. “One of the first things I want to talk to Barack about is how we must do more to try and solve this crisis,” Cameron told journalists at a camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan, where he was on an official trip. (Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Reuters — Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he hoped Obama’s re-election would allow U.S.-Afghan ties to further expand even as the United States plans to withdraw most combat troops by the end of 2014. “American is a strong ally of Afghanistan and we congratulate Obama’s victory as a new U.S. president. We hope he puts more effort in fighting against terrorists and their bases in Pakistan,” said Karzai spokesman Siamak Herawi. (Massoud Hossaini/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Reuters — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to cooperate with Obama on security issues despite what has been seen as a testy personal relationship that clouded U.S.-Israel ties over the past four years. “I will continue to work with President Obama to ensure the interests that are vital for the security of Israel’s citizens,” Netanyahu said in a short, congratulatory statement hailing what he called strong strategic relations with Washington. (Gali Tibbon – Pool/Getty Images)
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- Reuters — Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Obama now had a historic opportunity to work for global peace and progress “at an admittedly difficult juncture.” “I have no doubt that there is much more we can do together to further strengthen the India-U.S. partnership,” Singh said in a statement. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)
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- Reuters — Prime Minister Stephen Harper congratulated Obama and said he was looking forward to cooperating on initiatives to generate jobs and growth on both sides of the border. “This includes putting in place the transportation and security infrastructure necessary to take bilateral commercial relations to new heights and reducing red tape so companies on both sides of the border can create more jobs,” Harper said in a statement. (Chris Wattie/Reuters)
Reuters: Reporting by John Chalmers, Frank Daniel, Randy Fabi, Michael Gregory, Drazen Jorgic, John Stonestreet, Kiyoshi Takenaka; Writing by Susan Heavey and Andrew Quinn in Washington; Editing by David Storey
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