World Greets Obama Reelection, More Subdued than in 2008

World | November 7, 2012, Wednesday // 13:14
Bulgaria: World Greets Obama Reelection, More Subdued than in 2008 US President Barack Obama won a second White House term Tuesday night despite concerns about the fragile economic recovery and soundly defeated Republican nominee Mitt Romney. Photo by CNN

World leaders began congratulating US President Barack Obama on his re-election, but the tone is much more subdued due to lower expectations of the country's power overseas.

"I've really enjoyed working with him over these last few years and look forward to working with him again over the next four years," UK Prime Minister David Cameron told the BBC during a visit to a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan today.

"Rght here in Jordan I'm hearing appalling stories of what is happening inside Syria. ne of the first things I want to talk to Barack about is how we must do more to try and solve this crisis."

"I will continue to work with President Obama to ensure the essential security interests of Israel's citizens," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an e-mail.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a letter to Obama that she "greatly values" cooperation with the US.

French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said Obama is a "great president" and congratulated him on the re-election.

"We work well with his administration," Moscovici told RTL radio today. "It has always been helpful to solve the euro- zone crisis, preserve its integrity and favors a balance between austerity and growth."

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao offered their congratulations, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a briefing in Beijing today. China will hold a once-a-decade leadership transition starting this week.

"China is ready to work with the US side to deliver greater benefits to our two peoples and the people of the world," Hong said.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, whose country is America's biggest ally in Asia and hosts almost 40,000 of its military personnel, told reporters "we look forward to continued cooperation."

South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak welcomed Obama's re- election and called for continued cooperation in stifling North Korea's nuclear threat.

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said he plans to build on relations with the US that are the strongest in 30 years, according to a statement on the website of the island's Presidential Office.

Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard called for US leadership on financial stability and climate change in a statement saluting Obama for his victory.

The U.S. is deploying 2,500 Marines in northern Australia and will station about 60 percent of the Pentagon's naval assets in the Asia-Pacific region by 2020, up from about 50 percent now.

"Many challenges lie ahead, from ending the bloodshed in Syria, to getting the Middle East peace process back on track, to promoting sustainable development and tackling the challenges posed by climate change," United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said in an e-mailed statement today. "All will require strong multilateral cooperation" and the UN counts on the "active engagement" of the U.S. on these and other issues.

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Tags: US, president, Barack Obama

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