World leaders show support for Joe Biden after his decision to withdraw from the race

After learning that President Joseph Biden is withdrawing from the presidential race, the first global leader to react was the prime minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer. “I respect President Biden’s decision and I look forward to us working together during the remainder of his presidency. I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, he will have made his decision based on what he believes is best for the American people,” he posted on X.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said on Monday that Israel will be the United States’ strongest ally in the Middle East regardless of who is elected president in November. Netanyahu made the statement before flying to Washington, where he was due to address the U.S. Congress. “I will tell my friends on both sides of the aisle that regardless who the American people choose as their next president, Israel remains America’s indispensable and strong ally in the Middle East.”

The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said on Monday that the European bloc respects Biden’s decision. “We have had a very positive relationship, but if President Biden decides to withdraw because he thinks that another candidate may have more strength to win the elections for the Democratic Party, we respect his decision,” said Borrell said in statements to the media after arriving at the meeting that EU foreign ministers are holding today in Brussels.

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs also wished “the best” for the next Democratic candidate for the White House and noted that “there will be an important difference” in the transatlantic relationship depending on whether it is a Democrat or the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, who comes to power.

The prime minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, expressed “all my admiration and recognition for the brave and dignified decision.” Like several other European leaders, he also underscored Biden’s “exemplary” support for Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that “my friend Joe Biden has achieved a lot for his country, for Europe, for the world. Thanks to him, transatlantic cooperation is close, NATO is strong, and the United States is a good and reliable partner for us. “

Russia was one of the few countries where there was no statement admiring President Biden’s decision. Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov said that there are only four months left until the elections, and that everything can change in that time, “so we must be patient and see what happens.” The priority, he added, “is the military operation” in Ukraine.

China is another country that failed to show overt support for Biden. The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday refused to comment on the president’s decision to step down from the race. “It is an internal matter of the United States, we will not comment on that,” said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning at the department’s official press conference when asked about the matter.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition