PARIS: Leaders from around the world reacted to Donald Trump鈥檚 return Monday to the White House, offering congratulations and urging good relations with the mercurial leader.
Here are some of the first reactions after Trump took the oath of office for a second term:
鈥淧resident Trump is always decisive, and the peace through strength policy he announced provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace, which is the top priority,鈥� said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
NATO chief Mark Rutte said Trump鈥檚 return 鈥渨ill turbo-charge defense spending and production鈥� at the alliance.
鈥淚 believe that working together again we will raise the US-Israel alliance to even greater heights,鈥� said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding 鈥渢he 鈥渂est days of our alliance are yet to come.鈥�
鈥淚 am certain that the friendship between our nations and the values that unite us will continue to strengthen the collaboration between Italy and the USA, together facing global challenges and building a future of prosperity and security for our peoples,鈥� Italy鈥檚 Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media.
She also cited a role for Italy in 鈥渃onsolidating the dialogue between the United States and Europe.鈥�
Panama reacted sharply to Trump鈥檚 pledge that the United States would be 鈥渢aking back鈥� the Panama Canal, saying the key interoceanic waterway would remain under its control.
鈥淭he canal is and will remain Panama鈥檚,鈥� President Jose Raul Mulino said in a statement published on social media.
鈥淭he EU looks forward to working closely with you to tackle global challenges,鈥� EU chief Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X. 鈥淭ogether, our societies can achieve greater prosperity and strengthen their common security.鈥�
鈥淚 look forward to working closely together once again, to benefit both our countries, and to shape a better future for the world,鈥� said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, congratulating his 鈥渄ear friend鈥� Trump.
鈥淲e are strongest when we work together, and I look forward to working with President Trump,鈥� Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, adding 鈥� after Trump threatened to impose 25-percent tariffs on Canadian imports 鈥� that 鈥淐anada and the United States have the world鈥檚 most successful economic partnership.鈥�
鈥淭he US is our closest ally and the aim of our policy is always a good transatlantic relationship,鈥� said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.