World leaders said they were looking forward to working with Joe Biden, as they welcomed the 46th President of the United States with praise and took parting shots at his predecessor Donald Trump.
Biden on Wednesday vowed to repair America’s alliances and engage with the world once again.
In his inaugural speech after being sworn in as the President in a historic but scaled down ceremony, the 78-year-old veteran Democratic leader said: “We’ll be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress and security”.
“America has been tested and we’ve come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again, not to meet yesterday’s challenges but today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. We will lead not merely by the example of our power, by the power of our example. We’ll be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security,” Biden said.
Here is how the world leaders reacted to the inauguration of Biden and Kamala Harris as the Vice President:
“Once again, after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
Charles Michel, president of the European Council, tweeted congratulations to Biden and Harris, adding: “It’s time to bring back conviction & common sense and rejuvenate our EU-US relationship.”
NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called Biden’s inauguration “the start of a new chapter for the transatlantic Alliance.”
“NATO Allies need to stand together to address the security consequences of the rise of China, the threat of terrorism, including in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a more assertive Russia,” he said.
“At a time when the grave crises facing our human family call for far-sighted and united responses, I pray that your decisions will be guided by a concern for building a society marked by authentic justice and freedom,” Pope Francis said.
Prime Narendra Modi tweeted: “My warmest congratulations to Joe Biden on his assumption of office as President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US strategic partnership.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also offered her “warmest congratulations,” adding that she looks forward to a “new chapter” in Germany’s relationship with the US, according to a tweet from her spokesman Steffen Seibert.
French President Emmanuel Macron marked the day with a tweet welcoming the US back into the Paris climate agreement. “We are together. We will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet. Welcome back to the Paris Agreement,” Macron said.