World leaders praise President Biden

Many world leaders praised Mr. Biden's contributions as US president, after he announced he was suspending his re-election bid.

US President Joe Biden posted a statement on X at noon on July 21 (early morning of July 22, Hanoi time), saying that he was suspending his presidential bid "for the best interests of the country" and supporting Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate.

After Mr. Biden's announcement, many world leaders immediately expressed their respect for the US President's dedication and contributions.

"He made many difficult decisions, which made Poland, America and the world safer. Democracy was also stronger," said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

"My friend, US President Joe Biden, has achieved a lot for the country, for Europe and for the world. His decision to stop running for re-election deserves respect," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X.

From left to right: US President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July 2023. Photo: AFP

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also said he respected President Biden's decision. "I look forward to working together for the remainder of his term. I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, Biden will make decisions that he believes are best for the American people," Starmer wrote on X.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant thanked Mr Biden for his “unwavering support” for Israel over the years. “Your unwavering support, especially in times of conflict, has been invaluable. We are grateful for your leadership and friendship,” he wrote on social media X.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also posted on X, thanking Mr. Biden for his support of the Israeli people throughout his decades-long career.

"I have known President Biden for many years. He is a great man and everything he does is driven by love for his country. As president, he is a true partner and friend to Canadians. Thank you President Biden and the First Lady of the United States," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on X.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed respect for President Biden's "difficult but strong" decision. "Ukraine is grateful to President Biden for his unwavering support for Ukraine's struggle. That, along with bipartisan support, has been and continues to be important," Zelensky wrote.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shared in a social media post that "thank you for your continued leadership and service, President Biden. The Australia-US alliance has never been stronger, with our shared commitment to democratic values, international security, economic prosperity, and climate action for this and future generations."

Former US President Barack Obama praised Mr Biden's achievements during his time in office. "He restored America's standing in the world, rebuilt NATO and rallied the world against Russia's war in Ukraine," he said.

Mr. Obama emphasized that Mr. Biden's decision to withdraw from the White House race despite having the right to run for re-election is a testament to "patriotism".

Russia, meanwhile, said it was monitoring developments in the US election this year. "The election is still four months away. That's a long time and a lot can change. We need to pay attention and see what happens, and continue our work," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.