AMID Donald Trump’s apparent success in the US presidential election, President Bola Tinubu and other world leaders have begun extending congratulatory messages, with a mixture of pledges of continued alliances, and a focus on international cooperation.
Trump’s apparent victory in key states has set him within reach of the 270 electoral votes needed to secure the presidency.
The ICIR reports that currently, Donald Trump has 266 electoral votes—just four short of the 270 needed to win—while Kamala Harris has 219.
This was as it reported that Trump has garnered 68,769,655 popular votes, representing 51.1 per cent while Harris has polled 63,551,488 votes (47.2 per cent).
Reacting to this development, president Bola Tinubu extended his congratulations to Trump on ‘his re-election as the 47th President’ of the United States of America.
Tinubu, in a statement by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said he “looks forward to strengthening the ties between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world.”
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also taken to social media to congratulate Trump on what he described as a “historic election victory,” noting a shared vision for continued collaboration.
“Heartiest congratulations, my friend @realDonaldTrump, on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability, and prosperity,” Modi stated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Trump on his “impressive victory,” expressing hope that Trump’s “peace through strength” approach could bring “just peace in Ukraine closer.”
“I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the “peace through strength” approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.
“We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump’s decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States,” he wrote on X.
He also noted that the country is interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both nations.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in his message, emphasised the enduring “special relationship” between the UK and the US.
“Congratulations, President-elect Trump, on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy, and enterprise,” Starmer remarked.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised Trump’s leadership as key to maintaining alliance stability.
On his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterised Trump’s projected victory as “history’s greatest comeback” and highlighted the renewed opportunity for US-Israel relations.
Also, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hailed Trump’s imminent win as “a much-needed victory for the world,” calling it “the biggest comeback in US political history.”
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, while expressing readiness to work with Trump to advance peace and prosperity, also noted that he recently discussed with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about aligning European interests alongside those of the US.
“I have just spoken with the Chancellor @OlafScholz. We will work towards a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe in this new context. By cooperating with the United States of America and defending our interests and our values,” he wrote on X.
With 266 electoral votes, Trump is on the verge of securing his return to the White House. His victories in battleground states like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia have left his opponent, Kamala Harris, with limited options.
Fox News has already called the race in Trump’s favor, though other networks have yet to confirm the outcome.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M