Views from countries where Trump’s victory really matters

News of Donald Trump’s return to power in the White House caused a global stir.

His so-called ‘America First’ foreign policy could lead the US to withdraw its involvement in conflict zones around the world.

Five BBC reporters assess the impact it could have where they are.

By James Waterhouse, Ukraine correspondent, Kiev

“Don’t try to predict Trump’s actions. No one knows how he will act.”

The words of a Ukrainian parliamentarian reflect the political challenge that Kiev is facing. A Trump victory is feared here for what it might mean for future US support.

The Republican Party once vowed to end the war in one day and repeatedly criticized US military aid to Ukraine. Now, it’s anyone’s guess what he can do.

“He could ask Putin to stop this war and he would say ‘OK,’” said one soldier on the front line. “That is the worst scenario because in a few years the Russians will attack again and possibly destroy us.”

“The second scenario is if Putin refuses,” he said. “It’s possible that Trump will react radically. That’s a more promising scenario.”

Ukraine hopes that means the US will increase its military support even further at the risk of Ukraine’s possible defeat.

For those near the front lines who have had enough of Russian aggression, Trump is seen as a path to respite.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine once labeled “the greatest salesman in history” by Trump, soon sent a congratulatory message.

He mentioned the political and economic opportunities that the partnership could bring and looked forward to continuing to fight in response.

There is also another ingredient.

Trump will not only have to consider further military support for Ukraine but also how or whether to respond to North Korea’s growing involvement in Russia’s invasion.

By Steve Rosenberg, Russia editor, Moscow

You might think the Kremlin would be upset about Trump reclaiming the White House.

After all, during the campaign he avoided criticizing Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris called the Russian president a “murderous dictator”.

Trump also questioned the scale of US military support for Kiev.

Publicly, however, the Kremlin is trying to give the impression that it is not excited about Trump’s victory.

“I am not aware of any plans [for President Putin] to congratulate Trump,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “Don’t forget that [America] is an ‘unfriendly nation’ directly and indirectly engaged in war against our state.”

The decline in expectations is a result of the results of Trump’s first term: The Kremlin has high hopes that Trump’s presidency will transform US-Russia relations. It doesn’t.

Yet at the political discussion club I’m attending in the mountains above Sochi, Russia’s top political scientists seem to be looking forward to Trump’s next installment.

One expert told me that he thinks that under Trump, America will “retreat” from its status as a global superpower.

Another said the US election was consistent with the Kremlin’s “master vision of the world”, in which “liberal globalism has undermined its effectiveness”.

By Paul Kirby, Europe digital editor

When dozens of European leaders from the EU and beyond gather in Budapest on Thursday, right-wingers will celebrate Donald Trump’s election victory, but the rest will wonder what happens next. according to.

Hungarian host and Trump ally Viktor Orban took to Facebook for the first time with a joyous message: “It’s in the bag!”

But for many other EU leaders, Trump 2.0 could signal trouble ahead on security, trade and climate change.

Within minutes of congratulating the Republican candidate, French President Emmanuel Macron said he had agreed with German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz to cooperate toward a “more united, stronger, sovereign Europe.” more empowered in this new context”.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock put forward the idea in that context. Having just returned from Ukraine, she said Europeans must now “think big and invest big in our European security”, with the US as a partner.

Her Polish and Nato counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski said he had been in touch with Trump’s top team and agreed “Europe must urgently take greater responsibility for its security”.

The prospect of high US tariffs on EU imports also weighs heavily. EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Trump but offered a timely reminder that “millions of jobs and billions of dollars in trade” depend on their transatlantic relationship.

By Lucy Williamson, Middle East correspondent, Jerusalem

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, was one of the first to congratulate Trump and previously called him Israel’s best friend ever in the White House.

Trump previously won support here by scrapping the US nuclear deal with Iran, which Israel opposed. He also reversed decades of US policy by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Michael Oren, former Israeli ambassador to the US, said Trump’s first term was “exemplary” for Israel. But he added: “We have to be very clear about who Donald Trump is and what he represents.”

The former president views wars as costly, Mr. Oren noted, and Trump has urged Israel to quickly end the war in Gaza.

“If Donald Trump takes office in January and says, ‘okay, you have a week to end this war,’ Netanyahu will have to respect that.”

In Gaza, where the Israeli army is fighting the Palestinian group Hamas, desperation has narrowed the attention of some residents.

Trump “made some strong promises,” said Ahmed, whose wife and son were both killed when their home was destroyed. “We hope he can help and bring peace.”

Another displaced resident, Mamdouh, said he didn’t care who won the US election – he just wanted someone to help.

By Laura Bicker, China correspondent, Beijing

China is preparing for the return of Donald Trump, where there are fears that his presidency will spark a new trade war.

As president, Trump imposed tariffs on more than $300 billion in Chinese imports. This time he said the tax rate could exceed 60%.

Beijing will not stand by – it will retaliate. But China’s economy is currently weakening and the country is in no mood for a second protracted trade war.

However, President Xi may see four more years of Trump as an opportunity.

The Biden administration has spent the past four years building friendships across Asia with South Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam – all in an effort to contain China.

Trump’s America First policy favors deals over this type of diplomacy. For example, as president, he asked South Korea for more money to continue sending American troops to the country.

Make no mistake, China wants to challenge the US-led world order. Beijing has built alliances with emerging economies across the so-called Global South.

There is a risk that Trump could alienate America’s allies in Asia, as he did during his recent presidency.

If that happens, Xi may see an opportunity to present himself as a stable global partner.