World leaders, including President Joko Widodo, warmly welcomed the election of Joe Biden as US President. Biden is expected to strengthen cooperation in various fields.
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ADHITYA RAMADHAN/KRIZ RAZIANTO MADA
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AFP/OLIVIER DOULIERY
Democratic presidential nominee and former US Vice President Joe Biden grabs his mask afte rintroducing his vice presidential running mate, US Senator Kamala Harris, during their first press conference together in Wilmington, Delaware, on August 12, 2020.
World leaders, including President Joko Widodo, warmly welcomed the election of Joe Biden as US President. Biden is expected to strengthen cooperation in various fields.
WASHINGTON, SUNDAY — The world warmly welcomes Joe Biden\'s victory in the 2020 United States presidential election, on Sunday (8/11/2020). They hope that international cooperation in various fields will recover after a tumultuous era in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump\'s administration.
World leaders see the election of Biden as providing an opportunity to strengthen cooperation on a number of crucial issues, from handling the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, to restoring multilateralism in international diplomacy. During the four years under Trump, the US has put forward unilateralism with the slogan "America First".
"We look forward to working more closely with you in strengthening Indonesia-US strategic partnership and encouraging cooperation in economy, democracy and multilateralism for the benefit of our citizens and beyond," President Joko Widodo tweeted, congratulating Biden and vice president-elect, Kamala Harris, via Twitter.
In his victory speech in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden promised "a new day for America.
Biden secured victory over Trump on Saturday morning, after gaining more than 270 electoral votes. In his victory speech in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden promised "a new day for America." In front of his supporters, he also conveyed hope and healing to US citizens.
Biden tried to embrace Trump supporters and declared "They are not the enemy. They are US citizens". "Let\'s give each other a chance." Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end here and now,” said Biden. As of Sunday night WIB, Trump has not conceded defeat. However, most of the leaders of the major nations have congratulated Biden. "Congratulations!" said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"I sincerely wish him the best of luck and every success," added Merkel. “Our trans-Atlantic friendship is indispensable if we are to deal with the major challenges of our time," she said via the German government\'s Twitter account.
Most Western leaders welcomed closer ties with Washington. Trump\'s US has often criticized partners in the West after decades of military and economic alliance. "The Americans have chosen their president. Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris! We have a lot to do to overcome today\'s challenges. Let\'s work together!" tweeted French President Emmanuel Macron.
In Asia, leaders of US partner countries, such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, also expect close ties with the US. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga sent "warm wishes". Indian PM Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter Biden\'s "spectacular victory".
AP PHOTO/JULIO CORTEZ
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., waves as she arrives on stage for the vice presidential debate with Vice President Mike Pence Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, at Kingsbury Hall on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Jakarta-based National Development University lecturer Afrimadona said the US under Biden would try to restore confidence in Asia. For several years, some in Asia doubted the seriousness of the US as a trustworthy and dependable partner.
Not only the heads of state, the world\'s major media also welcomed Biden\'s victory. They highlighted the existence of Kamala Harris, the vice president-elect to accompany Biden, as the first black female US vice president. "A New Dawn for the US," wrote The Independent in Britain in its headline complete with a photo of Biden standing next to Kamala. "What a liberation, what a relief," wrote the leftist German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.
However, social media users in the country have welcomed changes in the US.
From China, there has been no official response from Beijing. Under Trump, the US is embroiled in fierce competition in the fields of trade, security and technology. However, social media users in the country have welcomed changes in the US.
The China-US prospect
Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) researcher Evan Laksmana reminded that US-China rivalry did not start during the Trump administration. In the webinar "The 2020 US Presidential Election: Lessons for Indonesia" held by LP3ES, yesterday, he said that Biden\'s team and policies might not be much different from the Barack Obama era.
Together with Obama, Biden changed the focus of US foreign policy from the Middle East to the Asia Pacific. The Obama-era “Pacific Rebalancing” doctrine was created on the premise that China\'s power is increasing and that the US needs to keep the balance. On the other hand, Indonesia will remain the key to trade and politics in the region. There is no country that is more strategic militarily, politically and economically in Southeast Asia except Indonesia.
AP PHOTO/JULIO CORTEZ
A supporter of President-elect Joe Biden holds a sign referring to President Donald Trump outside the Pennsylvania State Capitol, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Harrisburg, Pa., after Biden defeated Trump to become 46th president of the United States.
Evan said, for the US and China, Indonesia is always important. Indonesia, especially because of its position and track record, can mediate between the US and China. (AP/AFP)
