International reactions to the 2012 United States presidential election

As a result of incumbent U.S. President Barack Obama's re-election victory over Mitt Romney reaction emanated from across the world including states and other institutions. Several U.S. embassies around the world held mock elections and hosted parties in watching the final result trickle through. Obama made his first foreign trip after the election day success at the end of November when he visited Cambodia for the 2012 ASEAN summit amidst his foreign policy outlook shift to East Asia. On the same trip, he became the first ever U.S. president to visit Myanmar. Global popular sentiment was generally in favor of Obama with the exception of Chile, Pakistan and, speculatively, Iran. Financial markets responded with mixed reactions to the result while the international news media reacted to specific issues surrounding the election.

States

– President Hamid Karzai reacted to the victory from abroad, saying that he hoped relations will strengthen "on the basis of mutual interests of the two countries."
*The Truth and Justice party's deputy leader Asadullah Walwaji said: "The Obama administration has experience from Afghanistan and the region – it can be effective for Afghanistan's situation."
*National Coalition leader Dr Abdullah Abdullah said that the United States' role in the country could be fruitful. "There would not be hopes of a better situation in Afghanistan if there is not some basic changes inside Afghanistan after 2014 and if foreign policies return to the way they were in the past."
*National Front of Afghanistan leader Ahmad Zia Masood called on Obama to help clean the politics of Afghanistan from corruption prior to the 2014 election or risk another Afghan civil war and a potential return of the Taliban. "On top of all these problems if the election is rigged then the people will loose patience and that opens up the door for a massive civil war. If the political process is transparent here there won't be a reason for a civil war. We expect Obama to pressure the government for a free and fair election."
*The Taliban called on Obama to immediately withdraw its ISAF forces. Spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid issued a statement that read " se thisgolden opportunity o solve the problems of the U.S. instead ofattacking and invading ther countries" He added that the people of the U.S. had grown weary of the war as futile and a waste of money.
** The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan issued a statement that called on Obama to do five things: Obama should use a second chance to avoid the U.S. acting as world police and focus on its own population instead of "burning romthe flames of international hatred; that the people of the U.S. are weary of wars and military spending and Obama should hence end the "futile" Afghan war and "tarnishing" the U.S. name; in the same vein, Obama should realize the populace is tired of the physical and economic cost of the war and should hence "immediately withdrawing its invading troops;" that the government of Afghanistan which the U.S. back "in our country are the most detested figures and rejected faces" and thus the U.S. would "only face more difficulties and will gain only more human and material losses; and lastly that Obama has realized the U.S. has "lost the battle in Afghanistan therefore instead of prolonging and lying, it should immediately leave our pure soil and instead turn its attention towards its own country and people.
*The people of Afghanistan were more weary about a non-commitment to the country from the U.S. Others were, however, ambivalent to the election.
*The U.S. embassy held a ceremony marking the result. U.S. Ambassador James B. Cunningham spoke of the tasks ahead for Obama, including the completion of the U.S. combat mission, a continued presence of some U.S. troops after the 2014 withdrawal deadline and implementing the Kabul–Washington strategic pact.

– President Bujar Nishani and Prime Minister Sali Berisha congratulated Obama on his re-election.

– President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner also congratulated Obama and called on him to "assume the role of global leader to overcome this political and economic crisis."

– President Serzh Sargsyan issued a congratulatory message to Obama the day following his re-election.
*U.S. Ambassador John Heffern said that Obama would be more involved in working to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict along with Russia and France, during his second term. He added that Obama would "try to do his best to provide more investments from the U.S. and larger trade volumes."

– Prime Minister Julia Gillard congratulated Obama on his victory by commenting on the close relations and work undertaken by their two states and stating she "look dforward to continuing this friendship." Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott also offered his congratulations to Obama and the newly elected members of Congress and governors saying that the U.S.–Australia alliance continued to enjoy bipartisan support in both countries.

– Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo congratulated Obama, saying: "His re-election is an encouraging signal for the future of the United States, the whole world and also our future. Americans have made a choice in favour of a more just and tolerant America. He always chose a multilateral approach based on mutual respect, consultation and co-operation. American citizens are lsoshowing the merits of a series of fundamental reforms in favour of greater justice and social protection n_regard_to_Obamacare.html" ;"title="Obamacare.html" ;"title="n regard to Obamacare">n regard to Obamacare">Obamacare.html" ;"title="n regard to Obamacare">n regard to Obamacare [We hope for] a continuation of the Belgium-United States relations, fruitful co-operation with the president and his government in the interests of both countries and all their people."
:Foreign Minister Didier Reynders, who visited the U.S. embassy at 7:00 as the result was coming on 7 November, hoped Obama would visit the country not just for EU issues but also a bilateral visit. He also predicted Obama would take more risks in his second term: "We expect initiatives in the Middle East. Maybe he will now be able to take stronger action against Syria." Defence Minister Pieter De Crem also echoed the sentiments over the Middle East: "US Middle East policy will centre on how to deal with Israel, how to deal with the gigantic tensions between Israel and Iran and the threat to security posed by Iran. I believe that a hard stand will have to be taken."
:Minister-President of Flanders Kris Peeters said the continuation of the Obama administration was a positive development: "It's extremely important for Europe and Flanders in which ways Mr Obama will stimulate the American economy. A great worry that the president must address is the budget deficit. For all kinds of matters it's a good thing that the president is again getting a term to give his policies shape. I hope he will succeed." He also wrote on Twitter: "Congratulations Barack Obama. Four more years to push America forward."

– Vice Minister of Social Movement Coordination Cesar Navarro said before the election that regardless of whoever wins "the US won't modify its imperialist policy toward Latin America and its ambition to...dominate the developing countries."
*Similarly, opposition congressman Osney Martinez said a second-term Obama administration would not change its stance in relations with the region if the region maintains an anti-imperialism stance.

– Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued an official statement that read: "On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to congratulate President Barack Obama on his victory in tonight's election and on being re-elected by the American people for a second term. ... Over the last four years, the President and I have worked on several important bilateral initiatives to generate jobs and growth in both our countries. ... I look forward to working with the Obama Administration over the next four years to continue finding ways to increase trade and investment flows between our countries. ... I also look forward to continuing to work with President Obama on pressing global economic issues as well as on security challenges, such as those in Iran and Syria. I would also like to congratulate all incoming and re-elected Members of Congress and Governors. Close cooperation between our two countries will be essential as we seek to create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity over the coming months and years."

– Chinese President Hu Jintao wrote a telegram to Obama in which he lauded the "positive progress" in bilateral relations. He added: "You and I have common views on constructing a China-US cooperation partnership based on mutual respect, mutual benefit and a win-win situation and constructing a new model for relations between great powers." The Foreign Ministry said that both Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao telephoned Obama to congratulate him.
* – Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying wrote to Obama expressing his congratulations and inviting Obama to visit Hong Kong during his second term to "see first-hand why Hong Kong holds such great attraction for U.S. business interests in Asia."
* – One of the first congratulatory calls to Obama came from the Dalai Lama who said that he recalled how the previous election had "inspired the world with a call to take responsibility for the problems we face as global citizens. Since then, you have made earnest efforts to live up to that great hope and trust placed in you by the American public. I believe you have been re-elected now in recognition of that effort."

– First Lady Cecilia Morel congratulated the Obama family and said "I can do nothing more than express great happiness and extend a congratulatory embrace to our dear friends Barack and Michelle Obama."
: Carolina Tohá, who had been elected mayor of Santiago less than two weeks prior, wrote on Twitter of her relief, a "new hope" in Obama's re-election and that the world would be worse off with a different result.

– Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said the next day that he was pleased with the result and that though Romney was competent the result was a close race. He added that he did not expect changes in relations between the two countries and that "great interest prevails for American elections as they impact not only America but the world too." Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusic told a press conference that the electoral process was exciting and that the result was assurance of a continuity in the political orientation toward Croatia, which she said was significant and positive. "In a way we remain to be a partner to the US in the region and for us that is an important role." The public relations office later said that Milanovic sent a letter of congratulations on behalf of both Croatia and the Croatian people, in which he thanked Obama and his administration for its efforts in working towards Croatia's successful integration into the Euro-Atlantic institutions.

– President Juan Manuel Santos congratulated his counterpart Obama hours after the result, stating that "we hope to continue working in the same way as we have been for the past two years: coordinated, with the same purpose, with the same goals, and with the same results," adding that the "triumph of President Barack Obama is good news for us because it allows us to continue consolidating a relationship that already has a strong foundation." He also noted the harmonic relation between the two countries.

– Chancellor Carlos Roverssi told the local media that the result would not lead to much change for the country, with the possible exception of remittances to the country from its expatriates.
*Some U.S. expatriates in the country supported an Obama win.

* The BBC
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