News that Joe Biden has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race has ricocheted around the world, with some global leaders immediately reacting to the news.
The U.S. President endorsed his Vice-President Kamala Harris on Sunday and said he would “focus all my energies on my duties as President” for the rest of his term.
Allies paid tribute to his foreign policy achievements and acknowledged the personal difficulty of his decision.
“Thanks to Biden, transatlantic cooperation is close, NATO is strong and the USA is a good and reliable partner for us. His decision not to run again deserves recognition,” Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on X.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he “respects” Mr Biden’s decision and “looks forward” to working together for the rest of his presidency.
“I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, President Biden will have made his decision based on what he believes is in the best interests of the American people,” Mr. Starmer said.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thanked Mr Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden, calling the president a “true friend” to Canadians. “He’s a great man, and everything he does is guided by his love for his country,” Mr Trudeau said.
Some noted the difficulty of Mr Biden’s decision to relinquish power.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Mr Biden had “made difficult decisions” throughout his political career that have “kept the world safer, and democracy and freedom stronger”.
“I know that you were guided by the same principles when announcing your latest decision. Perhaps the most difficult one in your life,” he said.
Mr Biden has faced intense pressure from recent weeks from the media and fellow Democrats to step aside, after a stuttering debate performance against Donald Trump in June.
But even up until last week, Mr Biden, the oldest person to have occupied the Oval Office, has said that he planned to stay in the race.
Czech Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, described Mr Biden’s decision to withdraw as “responsible and personally difficult… but all the more valuable”.
He added: “I am keeping my fingers crossed for the USA that a good president emerges from the democratic competition of two strong and equal candidates,” he said.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said he respects Mr Biden’s “tough but strong decision” and thanked him for his “unwavering support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom.”
“We sincerely hope that America’s continued strong leadership will prevent Russian evil from succeeding or making its aggression pay off,” Mr Zelensky said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s priority will still be on its war in Ukraine. “A lot can change” before the US presidential vote in November, he added.
“We need to be patient and carefully monitor what happens,” he said.
