HOW WORLD LEADERS ARE REACTING

PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU, IN A STATEMENT:

“Canada and the United States “will continue this partnership as we fight the global COVID-19 pandemic and support a sustainable economic recovery that will build back better for everyone.

“We will also work together to advance climate action and clean economic growth, promote inclusion and diversity, and create good middle-class jobs and opportunities for our people while contributing to democracy, peace, and security at home and around the world.”

ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN

NETANYAHU,

IN A STATEMENT:

“Congratulations President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on your historic inauguration. President Biden, you and I have had a warm personal friendship going back many decades. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the US-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world, and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran.”

Netanyahu's office released a separate statement on Trump: “President Trump, thank you for all the great things you have done for Israel, especially your historic recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and bringing four peace agreements between Israel and the Arab world.”

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON, SPEAKING

IN PARLIAMENT:

“I look forward to working with him (Biden), and with his new administration, strengthening the partnership between our countries and working on our shared priorities, from tackling climate change, building back better from the pandemic and strengthening our transatlantic security.”

POPE FRANCIS, IN A MESSAGE TO BIDEN:

“Under your leadership, may the American people continue to draw strength from the lofty political, ethical and religious values that have inspired the nation since its founding.

“I likewise ask God, the source of all wisdom and truth, to guide your efforts to foster understanding, reconciliation and peace within the United States and among the nations of the world in order to advance the universal common good.”

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN,

IN A TWEET:

“The United States is back. And Europe stands ready. To reconnect with an old and trusted partner, to breathe new life into our cherished alliance. I look forward to working together with @JoeBiden.”

GERMAN PRESIDENT FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, IN A VIDEO STATEMENT:

“Today is a good day for democracy. In the United States of America, it has faced tremendous challenges — and endured. Despite the attempts to tear at America's institutional fabric, election workers and governors, the judiciary and Congress, have proven strong. I am greatly relieved that, today, Joe Biden is being sworn in as president and will be moving into the White House. I know many people in Germany share this feeling.”

FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON,

IN A TWEET:

“Best wishes on this most significant day for the American people! 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!”

KREMLIN SPOKESMAN

DMITRY PESKOV, ON EXTENDING THE NEW START ARMS CONTROL TREATY, SPEAKING TO REPORTERS:

“Russia and its president are in favour of preserving this agreement .... If our American colleagues will in fact demonstrate a political will to preserve this pact by extending it, this can only be welcomed.”

IRANIAN FOREIGN

MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAEED KHATIBZADEH,

IN A TWEET:

“The DIPLOMATIC VANDALISM of Trump, Pompeo & co stemmed partly from a broken institutional process. But that same process — when `functional' — produced disasters like wars in Iraq, Afghanistan & Vietnam. The world knows that only the US can fix itself — in practice; not just words.”

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY

ORGANIZATION SECRETARY GENERAL JENS STOLTENBERG,

IN A STATEMENT:

“I look forward to working closely with President Biden and welcoming him to the NATO Summit in Brussels later this year. Our focus will be NATO2030, the initiative to make our strong Alliance even stronger and fit for the future.”

TEDROS ADHANOM

GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE WORLD

HEALTH ORGANIZATION,

IN A TWEET:

“Congratulations President @JoeBiden and Vice-President @KamalaHarris on your #Inauguration today. Here's to a healthier, fairer, safer, more sustainable world!”