Democrats in the United States scored a major victory in the midterm elections, taking control of both houses of Congress in a harsh rebuke to President Donald Trump and his Republican Party. The results are being closely watched outside the United States, as foreign leaders consider how the new political reality in Washington could affect American foreign policy, from the conflict with Iran to the war and trade relations between Russia and Ukraine. affected his party’s poor performance in the election, saying voters were probably unprepared “for the short-term consequences of the price of gasoline.” Here are the latest reactions from world leaders, as the scale of the Democratic victory continues to emerge: European Union European Parliament Vice President Christel Schaldemose said the U.S. results left her “cautiously optimistic on behalf of Europe.” “Not because now everything changes for the better, but because it could benefit support for Ukraine, the green transition and relations with the rest of the world,” Schaldemose said in a post on X. “But the EU must continue on the path of staying stronger and standing on its own two feet. That is not up for debate,” he added. Iran The speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is also the lead negotiator in talks with the United States, said voters had rejected the conflict. “Americans said NO TO WAR, and we support this message,” he wrote. Ghalibaf in a post on Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei said partisan changes in Washington would not alter US “hostility” toward Tehran. “If there are still those who harbor the slightest hope that the behavior of the hegemonic system can change through party or factional changes, or who believe that making concessions to the United States could persuade it to abandon its hostility toward the Iranian people, they are gravely mistaken,” Khamenei said in a statement shared by Iranian state media. There was no immediate reaction from Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a Trump ally whose coalition lost its own majority in Israel’s parliament in last week’s election, warned that if Netanyahu and his far-right government remain in power, Israel would be on “a path toward international sanctions, global isolation and a confrontation with the United States, our most important friend and ally.” “Seismic shift in American domestic politics.” “The shift in power emphasis in the United States is frequent,” Frith told British media. “But the pillar of the relationship with the UK government, as its closest ally, is unbreakable and immutable.” “So I don’t expect the nature of the relationship to change at all.” is still very strong,” he added. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said France would wait to see whether Trump, who remains in control of US foreign policy, adjusts his approach. “It is necessary, particularly with regard to gasoline prices, which directly affect people and, I should add, moderate their international involvement, or not,” Lescure told French television. “Frankly, this is something we will have to keep an eye on in the coming days.” Spain Left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the US Democrats’ overwhelming victory was emblematic of the “unraveling” of the global far right. “It happened in Brazil. It just happened in America. And it will happen soon in Spain,” said Sánchez, whose own premiership is at stake in early elections he called for Nov. 29. Sánchez said American voters had rejected policies that “only impoverish,” as well as hate, sexism, climate change denialism and “the privileges of the elites.” Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said relations between the United States and Greece would not be affected by the election results. “Relations between Greece and the United States will remain strong,” he told local media. “The United States is our strategic ally, and this will continue for large projects and all important agreements. Nothing will be affected by this result. It is obvious that we respect every result. The conclusions are clear.” The policy “is not based on short-term considerations and naturally does not depend on fluctuations in the political barometer in other countries,” Ryabkov said, quoted by Russian state media. “We will continue our work in accordance with the directives of the President of the Russian Federation,” he added. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow hoped the U.S. midterm results would not affect Trump’s “peace efforts.” Beijing would continue its “constructive strategic relationship” with the United States, emphasizing that the US elections are an “internal matter.” “China is willing to work with the United States to safeguard and implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen communication, properly manage differences and expand cooperation, build a constructive strategic relationship based on respect and equality,” Mao told reporters in Beijing. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said that whatever the outcome of the U.S. vote, “the Japan-U.S. alliance is the cornerstone of Japan’s foreign and security policy.” “As the international situation becomes turbulent and increasingly uncertain, a strong alliance between Japan and the United States is essential to maximize Japan’s national interests and for peace and stability in the international community,” Kihara said at a news conference. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has clashed with Trump over the US president’s promotion of debunked claims of a white genocide in South Africa, said the election marks “a new era in world relations.” “The Democrats have taken control of the Senate and the House, and the American people have spoken,” Ramaphosa told reporters.
