World Leaders Ready Themselves for a Biden Presidency

After a drawn-out vote count that transfixed not just the U.S. but most of the world, many global leaders on Saturday were quick to respond to former Vice President Joe Biden’s election victory, with most sending congratulations and vowing to work with him.

In Europe, where many countries hope President-elect Biden will reverse some of the decisions of the Trump administration, leaders in Germany, France and Italy as well as the secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization applauded Mr. Biden’s win.

“The American citizens have decided,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a statement Saturday. “I look forward to working together with President Biden. Our transatlantic friendship will be critical if we want to overcome the great challenges of the time.”

And German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Twitter , “We want to invest in our cooperation for a new transatlantic beginning, a new deal.”

Germany and other countries had opposed many moves by Mr. Trump, including the reduction of U.S. troop levels in Germany and the withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, the World Health Organization and the Paris climate accord.