World leaders responded as President Trump took a major step on Day 1 of his second term
London – In his speech after President Trump He took the oath of office For the second time on Monday, the US outlined several policies that will change its relationship with the rest of the world. In addition to pressing down immediately Immigration On the southern side of the border, Mr. Trump signed Executive orders To attract the US Outside of the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement.
While some world leaders congratulated Mr. Trump, others were unhappy with his first act as president. See reactions from around the world to Mr. Trump’s first steps below.
Trump’s response to America’s withdrawal from WHO
WHO is the United Nations organization responsible for global public health. It has nearly 200 member countries and plays a leading role in coordinating international responses to disease outbreaks and other health issues. Mr. Trump’s announcement kicks off a year-long notice period for the United States to withdraw from the World Health Organization and end all financial contributions to the body.
In a speech on Monday, Mr. Trump accused the World Health Organization of mishandling its actions. The covid-19 pandemic and other global health crises, he said the agency “failed to act independently of the political influence of relevant WHO member states” and demanded an “unfairly heavy toll” from the US, disproportionate to other major countries such as China. pay off .
Dr. Theodore Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said on social media, “The announcement of the United States of America’s intention to withdraw from the organization is regrettable.”
“For more than seven decades, the WHO and the USA have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats. Together we eliminated smallpox, and together we are on the verge of eradicating polio,” Tedros said. “We hope the United States will reassess and we look forward to a constructive dialogue to continue the partnership between the USA and WHO for the benefit of the health and safety of millions of people around the world.”
Reuters news agency quoted Germany’s health minister as saying on Tuesday that Berlin would try to persuade Mr Trump to change his mind on the WHO, while a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters that “the WHO’s role should not only be strengthened, but weakened”.
“China, as always, supports the World Health Organization in fulfilling its responsibilities,” spokesman Guo Jiaqun said, according to the news agency, adding that Beijing “will work to build a common health community for humanity.”
The response to Trump saying that the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate agreement
In response to Mr. Trump’s announcement that the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement – a An activity that takes a year to complete UN Climate Change Secretary-General Simon Steele said anyone who rejects clean energy will lose “huge profits, millions of manufacturing jobs and clean air”.
The Paris Agreement It is a legally binding agreement to tackle climate change, ratified by 196 parties in 2015. The aim is to “hold global average temperature rise to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and “to try”. Limit temperatures to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Ignoring all that wealth will only send economies into competition as climate disasters like droughts, wildfires, and hurricanes worsen, destroying property and businesses, hitting food production nationwide, and causing economy-wide inflation. Reuters added that there is still room for the new Trump administration to change course.
“The door is open to the Paris Agreement, and we welcome constructive participation from any and all countries,” Steele said.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday that Europe “stays on track and is working with all countries that want to protect and stop nature”. global warming.”
She pledged that the Group of 27 EU would respect the terms and goals of the Paris Agreement, “which will continue to be the best hope for all of humanity.”
“Uncommon Fear” in Europe
Georgios Samaras, a professor of public policy at King’s College London, said European leaders must decide how to position themselves regarding Mr Trump and his policies.
“I’ve talked to my colleagues in the EU, and there’s an unusual fear in the commission right now, because they don’t know what’s next,” Samaras told CBS News. “I believe Trump will choose his allies carefully, and those who do not bend the knee will face the consequences of the Trump agenda.”
“The EU will find a way to deal with Trump or be targeted in the same way,” he predicted.
Mr Trump threatened the EU with tariffs, but von der Leyen sent her “best wishes”.
“The EU looks forward to working closely with you to tackle global challenges,” the EU leader said in a social media post. “Together, our communities can achieve greater prosperity and strengthen their collective security. This is the enduring strength of the Atlantic Partnership.”
Responses to Trump’s inauguration from other voices around the world
The initial reaction from many world leaders was congratulatory, despite tensions between Mr Trump and some longtime US allies.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been repeatedly attacked by Trump’s nominee Elon Musk on social media in recent weeks, said, “The relationship between the two countries has been one of cooperation, collaboration and lasting partnership for centuries. “With President Trump’s long-standing love and historic relationship with the United Kingdom, I know that deep friendship will continue.”
During his last term in office, former President Joe Biden removed Cuba from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. Mr. Trump immediately He changed that movement.Cuban President Mikel Diaz called the canal “an act of arrogance and disrespect for the truth.”
Mr. Trump threatened again in his inaugural address. To regain control of the Panama Canal.
Panamanian President José Raúl Molino responded in a statement issued shortly after his speech, reiterating that “Boy is Panamanian and will remain so. His administration will remain under Panamanian control regarding his permanent neutrality.”
Mexican President Claudia Schinbaum responded to Mr Trump’s executive order, which would pave the way for US troops to be sent to the southern coast and designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Sheinbaum said the orders were similar to policies under Mr Trump’s previous administrations and that Mexico was prepared.
“They can work in their region within the framework of their constitution. What we are saying: stay away from our sovereignty, stay away from our freedom, we can coordinate, but we are a free, independent and sovereign country and we need coordination,” Sheinbaum said.
She also criticized Mr Trump’s order. Rename the Gulf of Mexico To the “Gulf of America”
“To us and to the whole world, it’s still the Gulf of Mexico,” she said.
Mr. Trump did not immediately impose new tariffs on China, as he could and recently delayed a ban on Chinese-owned TikTok that was conceived by his previous administration and passed by the Biden administration.
“China is ready to work with the new US government under the strategic guidance of the two presidents,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo said Tuesday, according to the South China Morning Post newspaper. “The economic relationship between China and the US, although there are differences and disagreements, both are beneficial. China believes that there is room for cooperation and dialogue in this business area, and both countries can have more talks.”
“The best days of our alliance are yet to come,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement on Monday.
“Your first term as president was full of wonderful moments,” Netanyahu said. “I am confident that we will complete the defeat of Iran’s terrorist axis and bring a new era of peace and prosperity to our region.”
Iran’s semi-official Student News Agency quoted the country’s deputy minister of law and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, as saying that Tehran is ready to negotiate directly with the new US administration with the aim of achieving sanctions as before. has risen.
“If there is a similar idea on the other side, the talks will take place and a conclusion can be reached,” said Garibabadi.
Iranians who spoke to CBS News on the streets of Tehran expressed concern over Mr. Trump’s previous hard line on policy toward their country and the devastating impact of earlier sanctions.
Kimya, 26, who declined to give her full name, told CBS News that she hopes Mr. Trump will continue his “high pressure” strategy on her country’s leaders, change their domestic policies and allocate more. A wealth that benefits the people of Iran “more than any other country”.
Others, however, expressed hope that Mr. Trump could negotiate a new deal with Iran’s relatively new reformist group. President Masoud Pezeshkian.
“I believe that this time President Trump and Iranian President Mr. Pezheshkian can have a positive negotiation, and there is hope that it will end well for the Iranian people,” said Mayan, a 29-year-old master’s student in Tehran.
At a meeting of Russia’s Security Council hours before Mr Trump was sworn in, Moscow praised the new administration for restoring direct lines of communication it says the Biden White House had cut.
“Naturally, we welcome this position and congratulate the President-elect of the United States of America on his inauguration,” Putin said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Mr Trump on Monday.
“President Trump has always been decisive, and his peace through strength policy provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace, which is a priority,” Zelensky said.
It is unclear how Mr. Trump will handle the war in Ukraine after pledging on the campaign trail to quickly end the conflict there. In the year Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, the US has been providing Ukraine with massive amounts of military aid.
In a separate video message, Zelensky said the new US administration has given him a good chance to achieve peace.
“Ukrainians are ready to work together with the Americans to bring peace, real peace,” he said. “This opportunity must be used.”
Syed Batay and
contributed to this report.
