foreignpolicy--2020-11-06--Is Biden Bad News for Bibi?

Is Biden Bad News for Bibi?

This article is part of Election 2020 : America Votes , FP ’ s round-the-clock coverage of the U.S. election results as they come in , with short dispatches from correspondents and analysts around the world .
The America Votes page is free for all readers .
The effects of Tuesday ’ s vote will ripple far beyond the shores of the United States .
With Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden increasingly on track to a victory—barring unforeseen legal challenges—and a move into the White House in January 2021 , Israel is one of the places whose political calculus stands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the impending personnel changes in Washington .
The prolonged delay in declaring a winner hasn ’ t overly traumatized Israelis , who are accustomed to waiting weeks , if not months , after Election Day until the final picture emerges .
Benjamin Netanyahu , Israel ’ s prime minister since March 2009 , heads a wildly unstable coalition government .
Its key leaders feud incessantly and publicly about everything from the national budget and senior appointments to regional strategy and even the country ’ s response to COVID-19 .
Conventional wisdom has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an imminent election , which would be their fourth since April 2019 .
But the advent of a Biden presidency could precipitate a grudging cease-fire between Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz , who is slated to replace him as premier in a rotation next November .
The past four years have generated a diplomatic windfall for Israel .
Netanyahu—a uniquely talented Trump-charmer among world leaders—has leveraged these gains domestically , fashioning himself as the Israeli politician most capable of shepherding his nation ’ s critical relationship with Washington .
That argument has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when Democrats have occupied the Oval Office .
Netanyahu ’ s dealings with Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were notoriously strained ; in his December 2016 parting shot , after a rare U.S. abstention on a United Nations Security Council resolution censuring Israeli settlement activity , Netanyahu lashed out at the Obama administration , accusing it of having “ colluded with [ the U.N. ] behind the scenes ” in a “ gang-up ” on Israel .
Polls forecasting President Donald Trump ’ s defeat were not lost on Netanyahu .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister chose to articulate last week that bipartisan U.S. support for Israel has been “ one of the foundations of the American-Israeli alliance.
” ( That episode came on the heels of Trump ’ s clumsy Oct. 23 attempt to embroil Netanyahu in the campaign when he asked him , in front of assembled media , whether “ you think sleepy Joe could have made this deal [ with Sudan ] , Bibi ?
” Netanyahu dodged the bullet . )
Expectations are that Biden ’ s Middle East policy will place him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his right-wing boosters .
A renewed U.S. focus on pursuing a “ path of diplomacy ” with Iran and jump-starting the currently dormant negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians—including a resolute U.S. commitment to a two-state solution—are certain to spark clashes between Biden and Netanyahu , about whom Biden once famously said , “ I don ’ t agree with a damn thing you say.
” A depreciation in the value of Netanyahu ’ s stock on the world stage could make Israelis more amenable to considering an alternative investment .
Netanyahu will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as premier on the grounds that , if Israel is indeed destined to spar with the U.S. government , there is no person better positioned than him to wage those battles .
That may not be enough for him to survive at Israel ’ s helm .
Gantz met on Wednesday with Netanyahu ’ s nemesis , former Defense Minister Naftali Bennett , in a conspicuous sign that the vultures might already be circling and plotting the prime minister ’ s overthrow in parliament .
If the 14 members of Gantz ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break ranks and join together with the opposition in what ’ s known as a constructive no-confidence motion , it could be curtains for the incumbent .
Any attempt to eject Netanyahu from power will meet with formidable resistance .
Netanyahu is a political master , and his rivals will surely encounter difficulties in resolving their own differences en route to mounting a unified challenge against him .
He ’ s unlikely to make their task that much easier by rushing now to call a snap vote .
That said , the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon propel Israel—where the situation is fluid—back into the vortex of yet another election .

The effects of Tuesday’s vote will ripple far beyond the shores of the United States. With Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden increasingly on track to a victory—barring unforeseen legal challenges—and a move into the White House in January 2021, Israel is one of the places whose political calculus stands to be impacted most directly and significantly by the impending personnel changes in Washington. The prolonged delay in declaring a winner hasn't overly traumatized Israelis, who are accustomed to waiting weeks, if not months, after Election Day until the final picture emerges.
The effects of Tuesday’s vote will ripple far beyond the shores of the United States. With Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden increasingly on track to a victory—barring unforeseen legal challenges—and a move into the White House in January 2021, Israel is one of the places whose political calculus stands to be impacted most directly and significantly by the impending personnel changes in Washington. The prolonged delay in declaring a winner hasn’t overly traumatized Israelis, who are accustomed to waiting weeks, if not months, after Election Day until the final picture emerges.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister since March 2009, heads a wildly unstable coalition government. Its key leaders feud incessantly and publicly about everything from the national budget and senior appointments to regional strategy and even the country’s response to COVID-19.
Conventional wisdom has been suggesting that Israelis are speeding toward an imminent election, which would be their fourth since April 2019. But the advent of a Biden presidency could precipitate a grudging cease-fire between Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who is slated to replace him as premier in a rotation next November.
The past four years have generated a diplomatic windfall for Israel. Netanyahu—a uniquely talented Trump-charmer among world leaders—has leveraged these gains domestically, fashioning himself as the Israeli politician most capable of shepherding his nation’s critical relationship with Washington.
That argument has been an almost impossible sell, however, when Democrats have occupied the Oval Office. Netanyahu’s dealings with Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were notoriously strained; in his December 2016 parting shot, after a rare U.S. abstention on a United Nations Security Council resolution censuring Israeli settlement activity, Netanyahu lashed out at the Obama administration, accusing it of having “colluded with [the U.N.] behind the scenes” in a “gang-up” on Israel.
Polls forecasting President Donald Trump’s defeat were not lost on Netanyahu. It was no accident when the prime minister chose to articulate last week that bipartisan U.S. support for Israel has been “one of the foundations of the American-Israeli alliance.” (That episode came on the heels of Trump’s clumsy Oct. 23 attempt to embroil Netanyahu in the campaign when he asked him, in front of assembled media, whether “you think sleepy Joe could have made this deal [with Sudan], Bibi?” Netanyahu dodged the bullet.)
Expectations are that Biden’s Middle East policy will place him on a collision course with Netanyahu and his right-wing boosters. A renewed U.S. focus on pursuing a “path of diplomacy” with Iran and jump-starting the currently dormant negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians—including a resolute U.S. commitment to a two-state solution—are certain to spark clashes between Biden and Netanyahu, about whom Biden once famously said, “I don’t agree with a damn thing you say.”
A depreciation in the value of Netanyahu’s stock on the world stage could make Israelis more amenable to considering an alternative investment. Netanyahu will seek to make a case for continuing as premier on the grounds that, if Israel is indeed destined to spar with the U.S. government, there is no person better positioned than him to wage those battles. That may not be enough for him to survive at Israel’s helm. Gantz met on Wednesday with Netanyahu’s nemesis, former Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, in a conspicuous sign that the vultures might already be circling and plotting the prime minister’s overthrow in parliament.
If the 14 members of Gantz’s Blue and White faction were compelled to break ranks and join together with the opposition in what’s known as a constructive no-confidence motion, it could be curtains for the incumbent.
Any attempt to eject Netanyahu from power will meet with formidable resistance. Netanyahu is a political master, and his rivals will surely encounter difficulties in resolving their own differences en route to mounting a unified challenge against him. He’s unlikely to make their task that much easier by rushing now to call a snap vote. That said, the same political turmoil buffeting the United States could soon propel Israel—where the situation is fluid—back into the vortex of yet another election.


foreignpolicy--2020-11-06--Trump Promised to End America’s Wars. Biden Might Actually Do It.

Trump Promised to End America ’ s Wars .
Biden Might Actually Do It .
This article is part of Election 2020 : America Votes , FP ’ s round-the-clock coverage of the U.S. election results as they come in , with short dispatches from correspondents and analysts around the world .
The America Votes page is free for all readers .
U.S. President Donald Trump never seemed overly concerned about the deaths of thousands of Yemeni civilians at weddings , on school trips , and in their homes .
He was more interested in getting to know the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bombing , Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman .
On two occasions , the U.S. Congress passed a resolution to ban the sale of precision-guided missiles to Riyadh , hoping to wipe America ’ s conscience clean .
Trump , however , vetoed it without compunction both times .
By contrast , in 2017 he claimed that images of dead “ beautiful little babies , ” killed in a chemical attack allegedly ordered by the Syrian regime , had compelled him to order strikes on regime territory .
Many saw the contradiction as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just an attempt to score a point over his predecessor , who had failed to observe his own red line that a chemical weapons attack by Bashar al-Assad would trigger a military response .
Trump ’ s policies in countries afflicted by war were transactional and , at times , amounted to a betrayal of U.S. allies .
He displayed unprecedented fickleness for an American president when he went back and forth on the decision to keep or withdraw American troops in northeast Syria .
Dareen Khalifa , a senior analyst at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s indecision undermined the position of the West ’ s Syrian Kurdish allies , “ because any U.S. backing could end with a tweet.
” The Kurds had to keep a door open to the regime in case Turkey , which sees the Kurds as secessionists and terrorists , intensified its attacks on their territory .
Trump failed to deliver on his promise to end America ’ s wars .
Instead , he almost started one with Iran when he walked out of the nuclear deal and approved the assassination of Iranian Maj. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a victory before the election , Trump pushed for a peace deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan , but according to a U.S. watchdog there has been a 50 percent increase in violence in Afghanistan since the deal was signed in Doha , Qatar , earlier this year .
Joe Biden , the Democratic nominee who may be poised to win the presidency , intends to walk the middle path , somewhere between Barack Obama and Trump , to mitigate the damage unleashed by wars that started during his tenure as vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he signed off on as a senator .
“ It ’ s long past time we end the forever wars , ” Biden said in his first speech on his foreign policy in New York in 2019 .
He opposes the war in Yemen and is unlikely to veto if Congress decides to pass another resolution to stop the sale of weapons to Riyadh .
But while he has been openly critical of Saudi Arabia , few believe that any American president can for long stop deals worth billions of dollars to one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can , when he has the time and when Yemen figures on his long list of priorities , push the Saudis toward diplomacy and force Mohammed bin Salman to make enough concessions to the opposition , the Houthis , that an agreement can be reached .
But it is unclear exactly how he would go about it .
In Syria , Biden has more to answer for .
In its 10th year , the Syrian war has left hundreds of thousands of people dead and half the population displaced .
Obama and Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help the protesters and washing their hands of Syria as the regime bombed cities .
Biden , unlike Trump , is certain to keep at least a small number of troops in northeast Syria to support the Kurds , maintaining a foothold in a country now predominantly in the Russian orbit .
He wishes to retain the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration to squeeze the regime into making political concessions .
The Biden campaign ’ s policy paper says he will press all actors to pursue political solutions , facilitate the work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other countries to support Syria ’ s reconstruction.
” But it does not say how he would go about it , especially given he failed to do any of these when he was vice president .
“ He does not know how to do it , ” said Bassam Barabandi , a former Syrian diplomat currently in exile in the United States .
“ Biden ’ s team is split among those who talk to Assad , those who don ’ t see a point in it.
” The biggest difference between Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the region is Iran .
While Trump was obsessed with punishing Iran through his campaign of “ maximum pressure , ” Biden wants to reinstate the nuclear deal .
Beyond that , it ’ s hard to judge the extent of Biden ’ s ambitions .
The real prize would be to facilitate talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia , with a view to easing tensions between the Islamic powers , each vying for supremacy in a region fraught with fundamentalist religious doctrines .
But Biden ’ s plate will be full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an end , before he starts contemplating a lasting regional peace .

U.S. President Donald Trump never seemed overly concerned about the deaths of thousands of Yemeni civilians at weddings, on school trips, and in their homes. He was more interested in getting to know the new young power in Saudi Arabia responsible for the bombing, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. On two occasions, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution to ban the sale of precision-guided missiles to Riyadh, hoping to wipe America’s conscience clean. Trump, however, vetoed it without compunction both times.
U.S. President Donald Trump never seemed overly concerned about the deaths of thousands of Yemeni civilians at weddings, on school trips, and in their homes. He was more interested in getting to know the new young power in Saudi Arabia responsible for the bombing, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. On two occasions, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution to ban the sale of precision-guided missiles to Riyadh, hoping to wipe America’s conscience clean. Trump, however, vetoed it without compunction both times.
By contrast, in 2017 he claimed that images of dead “beautiful little babies,” killed in a chemical attack allegedly ordered by the Syrian regime, had compelled him to order strikes on regime territory. Many saw the contradiction as showing that his attack on Syria was just an attempt to score a point over his predecessor, who had failed to observe his own red line that a chemical weapons attack by Bashar al-Assad would trigger a military response.
Trump’s policies in countries afflicted by war were transactional and, at times, amounted to a betrayal of U.S. allies. He displayed unprecedented fickleness for an American president when he went back and forth on the decision to keep or withdraw American troops in northeast Syria. Dareen Khalifa, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, said Trump’s indecision undermined the position of the West’s Syrian Kurdish allies, “because any U.S. backing could end with a tweet.” The Kurds had to keep a door open to the regime in case Turkey, which sees the Kurds as secessionists and terrorists, intensified its attacks on their territory.
Trump failed to deliver on his promise to end America’s wars. Instead, he almost started one with Iran when he walked out of the nuclear deal and approved the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Suleimani. Desperate to show a victory before the election, Trump pushed for a peace deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan, but according to a U.S. watchdog there has been a 50 percent increase in violence in Afghanistan since the deal was signed in Doha, Qatar, earlier this year.
Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee who may be poised to win the presidency, intends to walk the middle path, somewhere between Barack Obama and Trump, to mitigate the damage unleashed by wars that started during his tenure as vice president and those in Iraq and Afghanistan that he signed off on as a senator.
“It’s long past time we end the forever wars,” Biden said in his first speech on his foreign policy in New York in 2019. He opposes the war in Yemen and is unlikely to veto if Congress decides to pass another resolution to stop the sale of weapons to Riyadh. But while he has been openly critical of Saudi Arabia, few believe that any American president can for long stop deals worth billions of dollars to one of its most prominent clients. He can, when he has the time and when Yemen figures on his long list of priorities, push the Saudis toward diplomacy and force Mohammed bin Salman to make enough concessions to the opposition, the Houthis, that an agreement can be reached. But it is unclear exactly how he would go about it.
In Syria, Biden has more to answer for. In its 10th year, the Syrian war has left hundreds of thousands of people dead and half the population displaced. Obama and Biden were criticized for not doing enough to help the protesters and washing their hands of Syria as the regime bombed cities.
Biden, unlike Trump, is certain to keep at least a small number of troops in northeast Syria to support the Kurds, maintaining a foothold in a country now predominantly in the Russian orbit. He wishes to retain the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration to squeeze the regime into making political concessions. The Biden campaign’s policy paper says he will press all actors to pursue political solutions, facilitate the work of nongovernmental organizations and, “mobilize other countries to support Syria’s reconstruction.” But it does not say how he would go about it, especially given he failed to do any of these when he was vice president. “He does not know how to do it,” said Bassam Barabandi, a former Syrian diplomat currently in exile in the United States. “Biden’s team is split among those who talk to Assad, those who don’t see a point in it.”
The biggest difference between Trump’s and Biden’s approaches to the region is Iran. While Trump was obsessed with punishing Iran through his campaign of “maximum pressure,” Biden wants to reinstate the nuclear deal. Beyond that, it’s hard to judge the extent of Biden’s ambitions. The real prize would be to facilitate talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, with a view to easing tensions between the Islamic powers, each vying for supremacy in a region fraught with fundamentalist religious doctrines. But Biden’s plate will be full enough trying to bring existing wars to an end, before he starts contemplating a lasting regional peace.


foreignpolicy--2020-11-06--Trump’s ‘Most Dishonest’ Speech Lays Out Assault on the U.S. Election

Trump ’ s ‘ Most Dishonest ’ Speech Lays Out Assault on the U.S. Election This article is part of Election 2020 : America Votes , FP ’ s round-the-clock coverage of the U.S. election results as they come in , with short dispatches from correspondents and analysts around the world .
The America Votes page is free for all readers .
On Thursday evening , as votes were still being tallied in battleground states , U.S. President Donald Trump took to the podium at the White House to give a speech that was an incendiary mix of half-truths and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the integrity of the electoral process .
Even by Trump ’ s standards , it was a crossing-the-Rubicon sort of moment , with the nation on a knife-edge , National Guard units on standby , storefronts boarded up , and the potential for violent unrest simmering in cities across the country .
Police arrested two men from Virginia over an alleged plot to attack the Pennsylvania election center where votes are being tallied .
Several networks , including NPR , MSNBC , NBC , ABC , CBS , and CNBC , cut their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact-check the president ’ s statements .
“ I ’ ve read or watched all of Trump ’ s speeches since 2016 .
This is the most dishonest speech he has ever given , ” CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale tweeted .
Below we unpack some of the most incorrect claims Trump made .
Trump began by falsely declaring victory , claiming , “ If you count the legal votes , I easily win.
” At the time of his speech , no winner had emerged , but Biden has secured more than 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the most votes ever won by a U.S. presidential candidate .
By Friday morning , Biden had squeaked ahead in Pennsylvania , which , if he wins it , will secure him enough Electoral College votes to win the election .
On Thursday , the Trump campaign announced it was filing a lawsuit in Nevada alleging that “ illegal votes ” had been cast on behalf of dead people and by people no longer resident in the state .
It ’ s not clear what evidence , if any , the campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump legal team has churned out a flurry of legal challenges over the past two days , but legal experts say they have little substance and are skeptical that they could meaningfully impact election results .
Trump also railed against “ late ” votes being counted , a target of his and the Republican Party since before Election Day .
In reality , almost two dozen states have provisions that allow absentee ballots to be counted after Nov. 3 , so long as they were postmarked on or before Election Day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 20 days after the election will be counted .
But Republicans have turned their focus to Pennsylvania , with its crucial 20 electoral votes .
Republicans fought to ensure that the state could not process mail-in votes ahead of time , something other states did to expedite reporting .
In October , the Pennsylvania Republican Party asked the Supreme Court to rule on whether the extended deadline for counting ballots should be allowed .
The court could revisit the issue after the election , but legal experts note that the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bitter political fight .
“ [ Chief ] Justice [ John ] Roberts is perceived to be very protective of the court ’ s institutional reputation as an independent branch of the government , ” said Wendy Weiser , the vice president of the democracy program at the Brennan Center for Justice .
The delayed counting of mail-in ballots led to one of Trump ’ s other false claims : “ We were winning in all the key locations by a lot , actually .
And then our numbers started miraculously getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began , Trump did in fact show a strong lead in a number of key states such as Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , and Michigan , but experts described it as a “ red mirage.
” More Republicans turned out for in-person voting , while more Democrats opted to vote by mail during a deadly pandemic , and it takes longer to tally those mail-in ballots .
And the votes aren ’ t being counted in secret , either : All vote tabulations are carefully monitored , and Republican officials are watching the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also being livestreamed online .
Trump also claimed that “ media polling was election interference in the truest sense , ” describing preelection polls that showed Biden with a lead in many key states as “ suppression polls.
” Most pollsters do seem to have overestimated Biden ’ s lead—especially in some states like Wisconsin—and the industry as a whole will face a reckoning after also failing to project Trump ’ s narrow win in 2016 .
But polls are a staple of election season in countless countries around the world .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those states are run in all cases by Democrats.
” In reality , key electoral roles in those states , including the secretaries of state in Nevada and Georgia , are held by Republicans .
In all , Trump painted a dark picture of the electoral landscape—one that he portrayed as marred by corruption , vote-rigging , and plots against him—but it wasn ’ t an accurate picture .
In an almost 17-minute speech , Trump managed to make over a dozen false or deeply misleading statements .

On Thursday evening, as votes were still being tallied in battleground states, U.S. President Donald Trump took to the podium at the White House to give a speech that was an incendiary mix of half-truths and outright lies as he sought to undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
On Thursday evening, as votes were still being tallied in battleground states, U.S. President Donald Trump took to the podium at the White House to give a speech that was an incendiary mix of half-truths and outright lies as he sought to undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
Even by Trump’s standards, it was a crossing-the-Rubicon sort of moment, with the nation on a knife-edge, National Guard units on standby, storefronts boarded up, and the potential for violent unrest simmering in cities across the country. Police arrested two men from Virginia over an alleged plot to attack the Pennsylvania election center where votes are being tallied. Several networks, including NPR, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, and CNBC, cut their broadcasts short with some opting instead to fact-check the president’s statements.
“I’ve read or watched all of Trump’s speeches since 2016. This is the most dishonest speech he has ever given,” CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale tweeted.
Below we unpack some of the most incorrect claims Trump made.
Trump began by falsely declaring victory, claiming, “If you count the legal votes, I easily win.”
At the time of his speech, no winner had emerged, but Biden has secured more than 4 million more votes than Trump so far, the most votes ever won by a U.S. presidential candidate. By Friday morning, Biden had squeaked ahead in Pennsylvania, which, if he wins it, will secure him enough Electoral College votes to win the election.
On Thursday, the Trump campaign announced it was filing a lawsuit in Nevada alleging that “illegal votes” had been cast on behalf of dead people and by people no longer resident in the state. It’s not clear what evidence, if any, the campaign has to back up its claim. The Trump legal team has churned out a flurry of legal challenges over the past two days, but legal experts say they have little substance and are skeptical that they could meaningfully impact election results.
Trump also railed against “late” votes being counted, a target of his and the Republican Party since before Election Day. In reality, almost two dozen states have provisions that allow absentee ballots to be counted after Nov. 3, so long as they were postmarked on or before Election Day. In Washington state, ballots that arrive up to 20 days after the election will be counted.
But Republicans have turned their focus to Pennsylvania, with its crucial 20 electoral votes. Republicans fought to ensure that the state could not process mail-in votes ahead of time, something other states did to expedite reporting. In October, the Pennsylvania Republican Party asked the Supreme Court to rule on whether the extended deadline for counting ballots should be allowed. The court could revisit the issue after the election, but legal experts note that the court would probably be cautious about wading into a bitter political fight.
“[Chief] Justice [John] Roberts is perceived to be very protective of the court’s institutional reputation as an independent branch of the government,” said Wendy Weiser, the vice president of the democracy program at the Brennan Center for Justice.
The delayed counting of mail-in ballots led to one of Trump’s other false claims: “We were winning in all the key locations by a lot, actually. And then our numbers started miraculously getting whittled away in secret.”
As counting began, Trump did in fact show a strong lead in a number of key states such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, but experts described it as a “red mirage.” More Republicans turned out for in-person voting, while more Democrats opted to vote by mail during a deadly pandemic, and it takes longer to tally those mail-in ballots. And the votes aren’t being counted in secret, either: All vote tabulations are carefully monitored, and Republican officials are watching the vote count in Pennsylvania. The count is also being livestreamed online.
Trump also claimed that “media polling was election interference in the truest sense,” describing preelection polls that showed Biden with a lead in many key states as “suppression polls.” Most pollsters do seem to have overestimated Biden’s lead—especially in some states like Wisconsin—and the industry as a whole will face a reckoning after also failing to project Trump’s narrow win in 2016. But polls are a staple of election season in countless countries around the world.
Trump further claimed that “the voting apparatus of those states are run in all cases by Democrats.” In reality, key electoral roles in those states, including the secretaries of state in Nevada and Georgia, are held by Republicans.
In all, Trump painted a dark picture of the electoral landscape—one that he portrayed as marred by corruption, vote-rigging, and plots against him—but it wasn’t an accurate picture. In an almost 17-minute speech, Trump managed to make over a dozen false or deeply misleading statements.


foreignpolicy--2020-11-07--Our Top Weekend Reads

Our Top Weekend Reads

The now dayslong wait for the results of the U.S. presidential election remains the top trending story in many countries around the world .
Some foreign leaders have even expressed concern following President Donald Trump ’ s unfounded claims about voter fraud .
But whether or not the United States ’ present fixation on the election and the mayhem it has provoked would go so far as to constitute a national security threat is yet to be determined .
Meanwhile , the latest wave of coronavirus lockdowns in Europe hasn ’ t come without popular backlash .
But demonstrators don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more of it .
And—because we really can ’ t help ourselves—more reflections on the consequences of the election , from Florida to Yemen .
1 .
Is an Undecided U.S. Presidential Election a National Security Threat ?
As the Trump administration files lawsuits and some states announce recounts , all eyes are glued to MSNBC ’ s Steve Kornacki and his electoral map .
But what about fears that adversaries like China could use the chaotic U.S. election as cover to , say , move on Taiwan ?
Emma Ashford and Matthew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t Want Lockdowns .
It Wants Government .
Throughout the course of the coronavirus pandemic , Europeans ’ support for their governments has increased , perhaps due to a rally-around-the-flag impulse seen in moments of crisis .
Anti-lockdown protests are less a stab at the state than a plea for more protection , Caroline de Gruyter writes .
3 .
Trump Promised to End America ’ s Wars .
Biden Might Actually Do It .
Joe Biden has long been critical of Saudi Arabia .
As president , he likely wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exports to the country—largely because of the revenue they generate for the United States .
But Biden could probably push Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman toward real concessions on the war in Yemen , Anchal Vohra writes .
However ill-founded Republicans ’ claims that a Biden-Harris administration would be tantamount to socialism may be , they did shore up Trump votes among Florida ’ s Colombian , Cuban , Nicaraguan , and Venezuelan communities—a rare demographic for whom foreign policy is a top election priority , Nancy San Martín writes .
5 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for India ’ s Modi A Vice President Kamala Harris would be good for Indian Americans , but not necessarily for India .
Unlike Trump , Harris is deeply critical of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s hard-line Bharatiya Janata Party—and has voiced public opposition to members of his government , Salvatore Babones writes .

The now dayslong wait for the results of the U.S. presidential election remains the top trending story in many countries around the world. Some foreign leaders have even expressed concern following President Donald Trump’s unfounded claims about voter fraud. But whether or not the United States’ present fixation on the election and the mayhem it has provoked would go so far as to constitute a national security threat is yet to be determined.
The now dayslong wait for the results of the U.S. presidential election remains the top trending story in many countries around the world. Some foreign leaders have even expressed concern following President Donald Trump’s unfounded claims about voter fraud. But whether or not the United States’ present fixation on the election and the mayhem it has provoked would go so far as to constitute a national security threat is yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, the latest wave of coronavirus lockdowns in Europe hasn’t come without popular backlash. But demonstrators don’t want less government intervention—they want more of it.
And—because we really can’t help ourselves—more reflections on the consequences of the election, from Florida to Yemen.
Here are Foreign Policy’s top weekend reads.
Counterprotesters debate a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump during demonstrations outside of the TCF Center in downtown Detroit, Michigan on Nov. 5.
As the Trump administration files lawsuits and some states announce recounts, all eyes are glued to MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki and his electoral map. But what about fears that adversaries like China could use the chaotic U.S. election as cover to, say, move on Taiwan? Emma Ashford and Matthew Kroenig discuss.
A protester wearing a yellow vest, oven mitts and a protective visor with a sign reading "500,000 euros of tableware, that's a lot of masks Brigitte" faces gendarmes during a demonstration in Paris, on July 14, 2020.
Throughout the course of the coronavirus pandemic, Europeans’ support for their governments has increased, perhaps due to a rally-around-the-flag impulse seen in moments of crisis. Anti-lockdown protests are less a stab at the state than a plea for more protection, Caroline de Gruyter writes.
Joe Biden speaks with U.S. Marine generals before a development meeting between Iraqi and American government officials and Sunni sheikhs September 6, 2007 in Ramadi, Anbar Province, Iraq.
Joe Biden has long been critical of Saudi Arabia. As president, he likely wouldn’t be able to completely halt arms exports to the country—largely because of the revenue they generate for the United States. But Biden could probably push Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman toward real concessions on the war in Yemen, Anchal Vohra writes.
Supporters shout and wave flags at President Donald Trump's motorcade
However ill-founded Republicans’ claims that a Biden-Harris administration would be tantamount to socialism may be, they did shore up Trump votes among Florida’s Colombian, Cuban, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan communities—a rare demographic for whom foreign policy is a top election priority, Nancy San Martín writes.
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris after being introduced by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden as his running mate in Wilmington, Delaware, on Aug. 12.
A Vice President Kamala Harris would be good for Indian Americans, but not necessarily for India. Unlike Trump, Harris is deeply critical of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hard-line Bharatiya Janata Party—and has voiced public opposition to members of his government, Salvatore Babones writes.


foreignpolicy--2020-11-07--Trump Was a Warning

Trump Was a Warning

This article is part of Election 2020 : America Votes , FP ’ s round-the-clock coverage of the U.S. election results as they come in , with short dispatches from correspondents and analysts around the world .
The America Votes page is free for all readers .
“ Life is a cabaret , old chum , ” sang Sally Bowles in the musical Cabaret .
And indeed , that ’ s how many Americans and others have been treating their democracies over the last several years : U.S. President Donald Trump and many others , of all ideological stripes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet under Trump , that approach took the United States to a cliff over which beckoned real authoritarianism and chaos .
Now , Democratic candidate Joe Biden has been elected president , and the United States seems to have stepped back from that edge for now .
But the election should be a wake-up call—and not just in the United States .
All over Europe , the reaction to Biden ’ s victory was instantaneous and ecstatic , with cries of “ may America never have a child ruling the White House again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is over .
The vast majority of Europeans , and many others , had been cheering Biden on—not because they particularly supported his policies , but because , like many Americans , they had been terrified by America ’ s course under Trump .
And yet , while decrying Trump ’ s vulgarity during the course of his presidency , many of the same people engaged in that very behavior : mudslinging , ad hominem attacks , name-calling .
People of all political persuasions did it .
Highly educated people who consider themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides—engaged in violent attacks when they could have protested peacefully .
Life was a cabaret , after all , until Election Day , when it dawned on plenty of people just how close to the edge of chaos the United States was .
That democracy doesn ’ t survive on its own : People have to look after it .
In the 1930s , at the same time the fictional Sally Bowles sang her songs in Berlin , the real Austrian writer Stefan Zweig watched the events Cabaret depicts : their country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with people taking their well-functioning society for granted even as it was slipping away .
And because they didn ’ t see it slipping away , he wrote , they didn ’ t act .
The veneer between a functioning democracy and descent into Hobbesian free-for-all is very thin , indeed .
With the election of Biden , that veneer is now back in place .
European leaders have a long wish list that includes a U.S. return to the Paris climate agreement ( Biden has promised that will happen on Inauguration Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and simply a negotiation partner who behaves like an adult .
But there ’ s no reason for Europeans to be smug .
A Trump could appear there , too .
Meanwhile , although Biden has said he wants the United States to heal , he can ’ t do it alone .
Division and , worse , suspicion of the other side are rampant—perhaps not surprisingly after so many hours spent denouncing each other .
During this election campaign , the two candidates for governor of Utah recorded a joint video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re rare bridge-building voices .
In the end , it isn ’ t just the act of voting and the relatively smooth counting of votes that make a democracy .
It ’ s also peaceful protest when votes really are stolen , as in Belarus , where protesters march week after week for fair elections .
It ’ s engaging with the other side on Twitter rather than responding with demeaning gifs .
It ’ s putting in the hard work to learn the ABCs of elections , as East Germans did ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Indeed , maybe it ’ s time for both Americans and the rest of the world to relearn what rule by the people really entails .
Democracy isn ’ t only a cabaret , old chum .

“Life is a cabaret, old chum,” sang Sally Bowles in the musical Cabaret. And indeed, that’s how many Americans and others have been treating their democracies over the last several years: U.S. President Donald Trump and many others, of all ideological stripes, have treated it as a show. Yet under Trump, that approach took the United States to a cliff over which beckoned real authoritarianism and chaos. Now, Democratic candidate Joe Biden has been elected president, and the United States seems to have stepped back from that edge for now. But the election should be a wake-up call—and not just in the United States.
“Life is a cabaret, old chum,” sang Sally Bowles in the musical Cabaret. And indeed, that’s how many Americans and others have been treating their democracies over the last several years: U.S. President Donald Trump and many others, of all ideological stripes, have treated it as a show. Yet under Trump, that approach took the United States to a cliff over which beckoned real authoritarianism and chaos. Now, Democratic candidate Joe Biden has been elected president, and the United States seems to have stepped back from that edge for now. But the election should be a wake-up call—and not just in the United States.
All over Europe, the reaction to Biden’s victory was instantaneous and ecstatic, with cries of “may America never have a child ruling the White House again” and a sense that a nightmare is over. The vast majority of Europeans, and many others, had been cheering Biden on—not because they particularly supported his policies, but because, like many Americans, they had been terrified by America’s course under Trump.
And yet, while decrying Trump’s vulgarity during the course of his presidency, many of the same people engaged in that very behavior: mudslinging, ad hominem attacks, name-calling. People of all political persuasions did it. Highly educated people who consider themselves experts did it. Some Americans—on both sides—engaged in violent attacks when they could have protested peacefully. Life was a cabaret, after all, until Election Day, when it dawned on plenty of people just how close to the edge of chaos the United States was. That democracy doesn’t survive on its own: People have to look after it.
In the 1930s, at the same time the fictional Sally Bowles sang her songs in Berlin, the real Austrian writer Stefan Zweig watched the events Cabaret depicts: their country’s imperceptible descent into the abyss, with people taking their well-functioning society for granted even as it was slipping away. And because they didn’t see it slipping away, he wrote, they didn’t act. The veneer between a functioning democracy and descent into Hobbesian free-for-all is very thin, indeed.
With the election of Biden, that veneer is now back in place. European leaders have a long wish list that includes a U.S. return to the Paris climate agreement (Biden has promised that will happen on Inauguration Day), a commitment to European security, and simply a negotiation partner who behaves like an adult. But there’s no reason for Europeans to be smug. A Trump could appear there, too.
Meanwhile, although Biden has said he wants the United States to heal, he can’t do it alone. Division and, worse, suspicion of the other side are rampant—perhaps not surprisingly after so many hours spent denouncing each other. During this election campaign, the two candidates for governor of Utah recorded a joint video pleading for civility, but they’re rare bridge-building voices.
In the end, it isn’t just the act of voting and the relatively smooth counting of votes that make a democracy. It’s also peaceful protest when votes really are stolen, as in Belarus, where protesters march week after week for fair elections. It’s engaging with the other side on Twitter rather than responding with demeaning gifs. It’s putting in the hard work to learn the ABCs of elections, as East Germans did ahead of their first free elections in 1990. Indeed, maybe it’s time for both Americans and the rest of the world to relearn what rule by the people really entails. Democracy isn’t only a cabaret, old chum.


foreignpolicy--2020-11-07--Slovenia PM Frantically Tries to Justify Congratulatory Trump Call

This article is part of Election 2020 : America Votes , FP ’ s round-the-clock coverage of the U.S. election results as they come in , with short dispatches from correspondents and analysts around the world .
The America Votes page is free for all readers .
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa wasn ’ t as cautious as America ’ s decision desks about deciding a final winner of the U.S. presidential election .
He offered his congratulations via tweet on Wednesday morning—to President Donald Trump , writing , “ More delays and facts denying from # MSM , bigger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since his error , Jansa has been retweeting conspiracy theories and accusing the Democrats of mass voter fraud , in between attacks on the fierce protests in his own country .
Picking up on Trumpist language , themes include condemning the supposed corruption of the mainstream media , calling it unfair that the election came down to votes in a handful of cities , and claiming that the courts will eventually decide in favor of Trump .
News organizations that back Jansa , such as the far-right Nova24 , have followed his lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In some ways , the mistake was not surprising .
Jansa is a far-right leader who has led a campaign against immigrants , served six months in prison after his second term as prime minister for corruption before Slovenia ’ s Constitutional Court overturned his conviction , and is a close ally of Hungarian autocrat Viktor Orban .
He has been a strong supporter of Trump , endorsing him before the election , and leaning on ties to Slovenian-born first lady Melania Trump .
It remains to be seen whether Jansa will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incoming president-elect , or whether he ’ ll continue to double down—not a recipe for friendship with the new administration .

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa wasn’t as cautious as America’s decision desks about deciding a final winner of the U.S. presidential election. He offered his congratulations via tweet on Wednesday morning—to President Donald Trump, writing, “More delays and facts denying from #MSM, bigger the final triumph for #POTUS.”
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa wasn’t as cautious as America’s decision desks about deciding a final winner of the U.S. presidential election. He offered his congratulations via tweet on Wednesday morning—to President Donald Trump, writing, “More delays and facts denying from #MSM, bigger the final triumph for #POTUS.”
Since his error, Jansa has been retweeting conspiracy theories and accusing the Democrats of mass voter fraud, in between attacks on the fierce protests in his own country. Picking up on Trumpist language, themes include condemning the supposed corruption of the mainstream media, calling it unfair that the election came down to votes in a handful of cities, and claiming that the courts will eventually decide in favor of Trump. News organizations that back Jansa, such as the far-right Nova24, have followed his lead, posting fictitious reports about voter fraud.
In some ways, the mistake was not surprising. Jansa is a far-right leader who has led a campaign against immigrants, served six months in prison after his second term as prime minister for corruption before Slovenia’s Constitutional Court overturned his conviction, and is a close ally of Hungarian autocrat Viktor Orban. He has been a strong supporter of Trump, endorsing him before the election, and leaning on ties to Slovenian-born first lady Melania Trump. It remains to be seen whether Jansa will eat his words and eventually congratulate the incoming president-elect, or whether he’ll continue to double down—not a recipe for friendship with the new administration.


foreignpolicy--2020-11-07--Biden Can Make the United States a Global Health Leader Again

Biden Can Make the United States a Global Health Leader Again This article is part of Election 2020 : America Votes , FP ’ s round-the-clock coverage of the U.S. election results as they come in , with short dispatches from correspondents and analysts around the world .
The America Votes page is free for all readers .
Joe Biden has just been declared the winner of the 2020 U.S. presidential election .
And with him in the White House , and a strong global health advisory team supporting him , the world can finally look forward to the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managing global crises .
Never before has an election meant so much when it comes to pandemic preparedness and response .
Now is the time for the United States to cooperate with countries across the world to suppress the coronavirus in a coordinated way President Donald Trump has blamed his own administration ’ s failings to control the coronavirus on the World Health Organization and on China .
The WHO has unfairly borne the brunt of this criticism , with Trump withdrawing the United States from WHO membership .
This position confuses what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The WHO can not point fingers , do investigations , or force countries to reveal information if they don ’ t want to .
It is a member-state body that works through consensus , soft norms , and diplomacy .
If praising China in January was the price of getting ahold of the virus sequencing , and having access for a WHO mission in February to get crucial epidemiological information out , isn ’ t that what diplomacy is all about ?
The WHO works by trying to bring all countries to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries for bad behavior , whichever country that might be .
In a world where no country—whether a dictatorship or a democracy—is likely to keep lines of communication and access open if it ’ s publicly excoriated , the WHO uses carrots in the court of public opinion for positive reinforcement and its seasoned health diplomats in bilateral meetings behind the scenes .
Biden has committed to rejoining the WHO on his first day in office and taking the COVID-19 crisis seriously .
As economic performance in the first half of 2020 has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health problem first , and then the economic fallout , have done better compared to those that pursued purely economic objectives .
In fact , COVID-19 harm and non-COVID-19 harm go together , and they can be minimized together .
This is the message that governments should be hearing around the world , and the United States can play a crucial role in getting countries around the table to agree on a joint strategy , shared objectives , and a timeline .
It also needs to show a real commitment to science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not fall for false information circulating on the internet .
A Biden win is a win for global health .

Joe Biden has just been declared the winner of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. And with him in the White House, and a strong global health advisory team supporting him, the world can finally look forward to the United States returning to a multilateral approach to managing global crises. Never before has an election meant so much when it comes to pandemic preparedness and response. Now is the time for the United States to cooperate with countries across the world to suppress the coronavirus in a coordinated way.
Joe Biden has just been declared the winner of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. And with him in the White House, and a strong global health advisory team supporting him, the world can finally look forward to the United States returning to a multilateral approach to managing global crises. Never before has an election meant so much when it comes to pandemic preparedness and response. Now is the time for the United States to cooperate with countries across the world to suppress the coronavirus in a coordinated way.
President Donald Trump has blamed his own administration’s failings to control the coronavirus on the World Health Organization and on China. The WHO has unfairly borne the brunt of this criticism, with Trump withdrawing the United States from WHO membership. This position confuses what the WHO can and cannot do. The WHO cannot point fingers, do investigations, or force countries to reveal information if they don’t want to. It is a member-state body that works through consensus, soft norms, and diplomacy.
If praising China in January was the price of getting ahold of the virus sequencing, and having access for a WHO mission in February to get crucial epidemiological information out, isn’t that what diplomacy is all about? The WHO works by trying to bring all countries to the table, rather than publicly shaming countries for bad behavior, whichever country that might be. In a world where no country—whether a dictatorship or a democracy—is likely to keep lines of communication and access open if it’s publicly excoriated, the WHO uses carrots in the court of public opinion for positive reinforcement and its seasoned health diplomats in bilateral meetings behind the scenes.
Biden has committed to rejoining the WHO on his first day in office and taking the COVID-19 crisis seriously. As economic performance in the first half of 2020 has shown, countries that dealt with the public health problem first, and then the economic fallout, have done better compared to those that pursued purely economic objectives.
In fact, COVID-19 harm and non-COVID-19 harm go together, and they can be minimized together. This is the message that governments should be hearing around the world, and the United States can play a crucial role in getting countries around the table to agree on a joint strategy, shared objectives, and a timeline. It also needs to show a real commitment to science and to educating its population so they do not fall for false information circulating on the internet. A Biden win is a win for global health.


foreignpolicy--2020-11-07--Relief Across Latin America at Trump’s Loss

This article is part of Election 2020 : America Votes , FP ’ s round-the-clock coverage of the U.S. election results as they come in , with short dispatches from correspondents and analysts around the world .
The America Votes page is free for all readers .
Latin American politicians and activists from Argentina to Mexico are celebrating U.S. President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory on Saturday .
Argentine President Alberto Fernández was the first Latin American president to speak out , not only congratulating the president-elect but also praising the democracy of the American people .
The Uruguayan president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his congratulations and asked Biden to work with him for “ the good of our people.
” The sense of relief in Latin American media is strong .
Some are talking of the end of fascism , others of the end of one of the darkest periods in American history , and others say they hope that Biden ’ s victory will bring the desired understanding and respect for a region that has suffered from the neglect or malignity of the Trump administration over the past four years .
Activists against racism and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election of Kamala Harris , a Black and South Asian American woman , as U.S. vice president .
Latin America has had several female leaders itself—but the presence of a woman next to , if not quite in , one of the most powerful jobs in the world is an inspiring sight .
But despite the sense of future unity and dialogue following the Democratic victory , the United States still must deal with a badly shattered image .
Years of racist language and cruelty toward Hispanic immigrants are not easy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump ’ s baseless accusations of electoral fraud hit close to home ; Latin American regimes have often disputed or even refused to accept election results .
If Biden ’ s constitutional path to office remains unobstructed despite Trump ’ s ranting , that will , in itself , help prop up the image of the United States as still potentially a democratic leader .

Latin American politicians and activists from Argentina to Mexico are celebrating U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s victory on Saturday. Argentine President Alberto Fernández was the first Latin American president to speak out, not only congratulating the president-elect but also praising the democracy of the American people. The Uruguayan president, Luis Lacalle Pou, also sent his congratulations and asked Biden to work with him for “the good of our people.”
Latin American politicians and activists from Argentina to Mexico are celebrating U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s victory on Saturday. Argentine President Alberto Fernández was the first Latin American president to speak out, not only congratulating the president-elect but also praising the democracy of the American people. The Uruguayan president, Luis Lacalle Pou, also sent his congratulations and asked Biden to work with him for “the good of our people.”
The sense of relief in Latin American media is strong. Some are talking of the end of fascism, others of the end of one of the darkest periods in American history, and others say they hope that Biden’s victory will bring the desired understanding and respect for a region that has suffered from the neglect or malignity of the Trump administration over the past four years. Activists against racism and crimes against women in the region hailed the election of Kamala Harris, a Black and South Asian American woman, as U.S. vice president. Latin America has had several female leaders itself—but the presence of a woman next to, if not quite in, one of the most powerful jobs in the world is an inspiring sight.
But despite the sense of future unity and dialogue following the Democratic victory, the United States still must deal with a badly shattered image. Years of racist language and cruelty toward Hispanic immigrants are not easy to fix. For many Latin Americans, President Donald Trump’s baseless accusations of electoral fraud hit close to home; Latin American regimes have often disputed or even refused to accept election results. If Biden’s constitutional path to office remains unobstructed despite Trump’s ranting, that will, in itself, help prop up the image of the United States as still potentially a democratic leader.


foreignpolicy--2020-11-07--World Leaders Congratulate Biden on Election Despite Trump Refusal to Concede

World Leaders Congratulate Biden on Election Despite Trump Refusal to Concede This article is part of Election 2020 : America Votes , FP ’ s round-the-clock coverage of the U.S. election results as they come in , with short dispatches from correspondents and analysts around the world .
The America Votes page is free for all readers .
Bells chimed in Paris and fireworks boomed in London after U.S. news outlets projected former Vice President Joe Biden had won the White House , the culmination of a nail-biting election and days of ballot counting in key battleground states .
World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s win—seen as a signal that the United States will be resuming its role as global leader—even as President Donald Trump refused to concede defeat .
European allies who regularly clashed with Trump over defense spending and trade were among some of the first to congratulate President-elect Biden .
French President Emmanuel Macron—whose close relationship with Trump quickly soured—addressed Biden and his running mate , California Sen. Kamala Harris , in a tweet , saying : “ We have a lot to do to overcome today ’ s challenges .
Let ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hidalgo—a long-standing critic of Trump for withdrawing the United States from the United Nations ’ Paris climate agreement , a move that went into effect a day after the election—said Biden ’ s victory “ symbolizes our need to act together more than ever , in view of climate emergency.
” Leaders in Germany , where Trump has approved a major U.S. troop drawdown amid tensions with Chancellor Angela Merkel , were also quick to congratulate the new president-elect .
“ We want to invest in our cooperation for a new trans-Atlantic beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas .
Merkel , through a spokesperson , wished Biden “ luck and success from the bottom of my heart.
” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky , who became the focus of a U.S. impeachment inquiry against Trump after the U.S. president tried to force Kyiv to investigate Biden by withholding military aid , tweeted that he was “ optimistic ” about the future of ties with Washington after Biden ’ s win .
“ Our friendship becomes only stronger !
” he wrote .
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg—who managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense spending amid Trump ’ s questionable NATO funding claims—also applauded Biden as a “ strong supporter of NATO and the transatlantic relationship.
” European Council President Charles Michel welcomed the chance to “ engage for a strong transatlantic partnership ” with Biden , citing multilateralism , climate change , and trade as three key priorities .
In Washington , a Reuters reporter snapped a photo of one reveler draped in a NATO flag as celebrations broke out near the White House on Saturday .
Some leaders seen as Trump allies also offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Boris Johnson , a Brexit champion whose government will negotiate a new trade deal with the future Biden administration , sent his congratulations on Twitter and cited climate change , trade , and security as key priorities .
Polish President Andrzej Duda , who has drawn criticism for new political restrictions seen as moving the country toward autocracy , said he was “ determined to upkeep high-level and high-quality ” relations .
The Trump administration inked deals to move thousands more U.S. troops to Poland after announcing a planned withdrawal of forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially be overturned by Biden .
Major U.S. allies outside of Europe also had praise for the incoming administration .
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded Harris—the first woman and person of Black and South Asian American descent elected vice president—for her “ pathbreaking ” success for Indian Americans .
“ I am confident that the vibrant India-US ties will get even stronger with your support and leadership , ” he wrote .
Colombian President Iván Duque pledged to “ work together to strengthen the common agenda ” with Biden and Harris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and transnational crime .
The small European country of Slovenia may be in an awkward position , as its prime minister , Janez Jansa , appeared to be the only world leader to incorrectly call the race for Trump earlier in the week , bashing Biden and lavishing praise on the U.S. president .
Another senior Slovenian official appeared to try to clean up the mess Saturday : “ As a European Commissioner from # Slovenia I warmly congratulate @ JoeBiden for his victory , ” tweeted Janez Lenarcic , European commissioner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will be able to start a new , productive chapter in the EU-US relations , based on our strong common values.
” Several world leaders who expressed support for Trump ’ s reelection before the vote—including Brazil ’ s Jair Bolsonaro and Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines—did not immediately issue public congratulations for Biden .
Neither did Vladimir Putin of Russia or Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel .

In the days since news outlets projected former Vice President Joe Biden has won the White House, world leaders have been reaching out to applaud the win—seen as a signal that the United States will be resuming its role as global leader—even as President Donald Trump refused to concede defeat.
In the days since news outlets projected former Vice President Joe Biden has won the White House, world leaders have been reaching out to applaud the win—seen as a signal that the United States will be resuming its role as global leader—even as President Donald Trump refused to concede defeat.
European allies who regularly clashed with Trump over defense spending and trade were among some of the first to congratulate President-elect Biden when news of his victory broke on Saturday. French President Emmanuel Macron—whose close relationship with Trump quickly soured—addressed Biden and his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, in a tweet, saying: “We have a lot to do to overcome today’s challenges. Let’s work together!”
Leaders in Germany, where Trump has approved a major U.S. troop drawdown amid tensions with Chancellor Angela Merkel, were also quick to congratulate the new president-elect. On Monday, Merkel said she has “fond memories” of working with Biden during the Obama administration and looks forward to cooperating with him to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and climate crisis. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country became the focus of a U.S. impeachment inquiry against Trump after the U.S. president tried to force Kyiv to investigate Biden by withholding military aid, tweeted that he was “optimistic” about the future of ties with Washington after Biden’s win. “Our friendship becomes only stronger!” he wrote.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg—who managed to get alliance members to increase their defense spending amid Trump’s questionable NATO funding claims—also applauded Biden as a “strong supporter of NATO and the transatlantic relationship.” European Council President Charles Michel welcomed the chance to “engage for a strong transatlantic partnership” with Biden, citing multilateralism, climate change, and trade as three key priorities. In Washington, a Reuters reporter snapped a photo of one reveler draped in a NATO flag as celebrations broke out near the White House on Saturday.
Some leaders seen as Trump allies also offered congratulations to the president-elect. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a Brexit champion whose government will negotiate a new trade deal with the future Biden administration, sent his congratulations on Twitter and cited climate change, trade, and security as key priorities. Polish President Andrzej Duda, who has drawn criticism for new political restrictions seen as moving the country toward autocracy, said he was “determined to upkeep high-level and high-quality” relations. The Trump administration inked deals to move thousands more U.S. troops to Poland after announcing a planned withdrawal of forces from Germany, a decision that could potentially be overturned by Biden.
Major U.S. allies outside of Europe also had praise for the incoming administration. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded Harris—the first woman and Black and South Asian American elected vice president—for her “pathbreaking” success for Indian Americans. “I am confident that the vibrant India-US ties will get even stronger with your support and leadership,” he wrote.
Several world leaders who expressed support for Trump’s reelection before the vote did not initially issue public congratulations for Biden. The small European country of Slovenia may be in an awkward position, as its prime minister, Janez Jansa, appeared to be the only world leader to incorrectly call the race for Trump earlier in the week, bashing Biden and lavishing praise on the U.S. president — forcing another senior Slovenian official appeared to try to clean up the mess on Saturday.
But some leaders who expressed support for Trump’s reelection appear to be coming around. On Sunday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte extended his “warm congratulations” through a spokesperson, noting that he hoped to work with Biden on “democracy, freedom, and the rule of law”—principles Duterte is known for undercutting at home. In a letter, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban—who had recently accused the Democratic Party of “moral imperialism”—wished the president-elect “good health and continued success in performing your exceedingly responsible duties.”
Some Trump allies in the Middle East also relented. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted his congratulations for Biden and Harris, addressing the President-elect directly: “Joe, we’ve had a long & warm personal relationship for nearly 40 years, and I know you as a great friend of Israel,” he wrote—papering over tensions between Netanyahu and Barack Obama during his eight years in the White House. But Netanyahu, who has a close personal relationship with Trump, also thanked the outgoing president for “bringing the American-Israeli alliance to unprecedented heights.”
Another country that enjoyed cozy relations with the Trump administration, Saudi Arabia, also congratulated Biden in a cable sent on Saturday, according to the Saudi Embassy in Washington. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been a close ally of Trump’s and is expected to come under closer scrutiny for human rights abuses by the new administration.
Others remain notably silent. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has refrained from issuing statements on the U.S. election over the past week, and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has said he would not congratulate Biden until the Trump campaign’s legal challenges were resolved, drawing criticism from top lawmakers.
Though Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has yet to comment on the U.S. election, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay seemed to indicate that he would go along with its results. In an interview with Turkish broadcaster Kanal 7 on Sunday, Oktay said “nothing will change for Turkey” with a new U.S. administration, and he committed himself to pressing Biden to cut support for Kurdish groups in northern Syria. Biden and Erdogan have a history of exchanging jabs: After Biden called Erdogan an “autocrat” in 2019, he was caught on a hot mic calling for leadership changes in Turkey. Erdogan blasted Biden as an “interventionist.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin—whom Trump has praised with effusive language throughout the course of his tenure—has not yet issued remarks on the election, a stark departure from 2016, when he congratulated Trump within hours of his victory. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has also stayed quiet. While Kim has exchanged gushing “love letters” with Trump, there’s no love lost between him and Biden—who called him a “thug” in the second presidential debate.
China has doubled down on its insistence to remain quiet on the U.S. election. On Monday, a foreign ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the matter, saying China would act in “accordance with international law.”
Update, Nov. 9, 2020: This article was updated to include statements and reactions from more world leaders.


foreignpolicy--2020-11-07--How President-Elect Biden Could—Believe It or Not—Help to Heal America

How President-Elect Biden Could—Believe It or Not—Help to Heal America The surprisingly close election between Democratic nominee Joe Biden and President Donald Trump has only deepened pessimism that America is a hopelessly divided nation .
And even as he ’ s been officially declared president-elect , Biden has seen his acumen for the top job called into question for his entire career—never more than by Trump , who lambasted him for his 47 years in Washington , calling him “ Sleepy Joe.
” But now is a moment when the old way of doing politics—Biden ’ s way—is about to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time when it seems Republicans and Democrats can no longer communicate at all , it ’ s worth noting that in the past five decades no politician has been more effective than Biden at making deals across the aisle .
Unlike his former boss President Barack Obama , who remained somewhat aloof from Congress and was criticized on that score even by some in his own party , Biden was always the go-to guy in his time as a senator and vice president , relentlessly stalking and schmoozing and looking to make deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As to Biden ’ s ‘ methodology , ’ it ranged from repeatedly buttonholing Members on the Senate floor ( or in the Democratic cloakroom ) to going down to the Senate gym when he heard that an undecided member was working out there , ” said his former Senate aide Michael Haltzel by email .
These are different times , of course .
Trump apparently still refuses to concede the election , and a substantial number of Americans—nearly half the country—may have trouble even accepting Biden as legitimate .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LOT !
” the president tweeted from his motorcade on his way to the golf course on Saturday morning .
Sen. Mitch McConnell , the most powerful Republican in Washington after Trump , notably refrained from congratulating Biden after news networks called the election for the Democratic candidate late Saturday morning .
And he has reportedly already pressed Biden to bypass progressives such as Sens .
Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders for key cabinet posts and instead pick centrists like Lael Brainard for Treasury and Tony Blinken or Sen. Chris Coons for State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Senate .
McConnell will also fight fiercely against Biden ’ s plans to rejoin the Paris climate pact and the Iran nuclear deal .
According to the Washington Post , upon his inauguration day 74 days from now , Biden plans to swiftly issue executive orders reversing Trump ’ s withdrawal from the World Health Organization , repealing the ban on immigration from some Muslim-majority countries , and reinstating the “ Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ” ( DACA ) program allowing immigrants called “ dreamers ” to remain in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate remains unclear .
How great will resistance from the Republicans be ?
It goes to show that Biden ’ s presidency will be , in fact , a test case of whether politics can still exist as it once did in the past , or whether the polarization is too great to overcome .
But there is also a sense that many in the nation are tired of the anger , the divisiveness , and Trump ’ s tweet-a-minute presidency .
They want action , they want calm , and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 relief package .
And if any degree of comity can be restored to Washington , it may be Biden who can do it—as even some of his former Republican Senate colleagues have said .
In an appearance in Wilmington , Del.
, Saturday evening after he was declared president-elect , Biden made an impassioned speech calling for a national healing , saying this was an “ inflection point ’ for reclaiming “ the soul of America.
” “ I ’ ll call on Congress , Republicans and Democrats , to make those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the president-elect , who will be at 78 the oldest president ever inaugurated , That will be no easy task , especially if McConnell—who once famously said his only task was to obstruct Obama and prevent him from getting a second term—becomes majority leader of the Senate again .
As Obama ’ s vice president , Biden was often the one who was called upon to reach out to Republicans—for example obtaining the three votes needed to put Obama ’ s Recovery Act over the top .
Obama was a president who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gene , ” Jonathan Alter wrote in The Center Holds , one of his accounts of the Obama presidency .
Biden , by contrast , has for decades been one of the biggest glad-handers on Capitol Hill , and he and McConnell have spent hours negotiating budget , deficit and other bills .
As Politico noted , McConnell was the only Senate Republican to attend Biden ’ s son Beau ’ s funeral .
Before he retired from the Senate in 2011 , Sen. Judd Gregg , a New Hampshire Republican , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden more into play .
“ They ’ d be very smart to bring him more into a role of managing and dealing with Congress , ” Gregg told me .
“ They ’ ve not done a great job of dealing with Republican members , especially the leadership , Mitch McConnell , Jon Kyl , and Lamar Alexander .
Clearly all three have a great personal relationship with Biden.
” These relationships go back many decades , Biden advocates say , especially when it came to forging a common front on foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Croatia in 1992-95 ; Kosovo in 1997-99—Biden ’ s GOP counterparts in leading the push for U.S. military involvement were Bob Dole and John McCain , ” said his former Senate aide Haltzel .
“ Biden travelled to Bosnia with Dole and in subsequent years talked with him several times a week about the Balkan situation.
” Haltzel also noted that when it came to NATO enlargement “ nothing could be more of an indication of Biden ’ s bipartisan ability than the fact that the GOP asked him to be floor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) accepting Poland , the Czech Republic , and Hungary into NATO .
That was simply unprecedented .
It recognized , first of all , Biden ’ s unequaled expertise on the subject and , second , the trust they had in him.
” “ He understands governance better than anyone else , ” the former Republican senator and defense secretary Chuck Hagel told me in an interview in 2010 , saying it was he who advised Barack Obama to pick Biden as his running mate in 2008 .
“ In particular , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. , a self-described regular guy who has spent most of his political career trying rather desperately to be taken seriously by his peers and the public , this is a golden and crowning moment .
He has become only the sixth vice president in U.S. history to be elected outright ( rather than succeed a deceased president ) , following John Adams , Thomas Jefferson , Martin Van Buren , Richard Nixon , and George H. W. Bush .
And his victory is a remarkable capstone to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bids to become president appeared to be done with four years ago when Hillary Clinton edged him aside—and ultimately lost to Trump .
Now he needs to do what he has said he will do : heal a badly broken country .
Nov. 7 : This story has been updated with Biden ’ s remarks as president-eledt .

The surprisingly close election between Democratic nominee Joe Biden and President Donald Trump has only deepened pessimism that America is a hopelessly divided nation. And even as he’s been officially declared president-elect, Biden has seen his acumen for the top job called into question for his entire career—never more than by Trump, who lambasted him for his 47 years in Washington, calling him “Sleepy Joe.”
The surprisingly close election between Democratic nominee Joe Biden and President Donald Trump has only deepened pessimism that America is a hopelessly divided nation. And even as he’s been officially declared president-elect, Biden has seen his acumen for the top job called into question for his entire career—never more than by Trump, who lambasted him for his 47 years in Washington, calling him “Sleepy Joe.”
But now is a moment when the old way of doing politics—Biden’s way—is about to confront the new. And at a time when it seems Republicans and Democrats can no longer communicate at all, it’s worth noting that in the past five decades no politician has been more effective than Biden at making deals across the aisle.
Unlike his former boss President Barack Obama, who remained somewhat aloof from Congress and was criticized on that score even by some in his own party, Biden was always the go-to guy in his time as a senator and vice president, relentlessly stalking and schmoozing and looking to make deal after deal, his former colleagues say. “As to Biden’s ‘methodology,’ it ranged from repeatedly buttonholing Members on the Senate floor (or in the Democratic cloakroom) to going down to the Senate gym when he heard that an undecided member was working out there,” said his former Senate aide Michael Haltzel by email.
These are different times, of course. Trump apparently still refuses to concede the election, and a substantial number of Americans—nearly half of voters—may have trouble even accepting Biden as legitimate. “I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!” the president tweeted from his motorcade on his way to the golf course on Saturday morning.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, the most powerful Republican in Washington after Trump, notably refrained from congratulating Biden after news networks called the election for the Democratic candidate late Saturday morning. And he has reportedly already pressed Biden to bypass progressives such as Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders for key cabinet posts and instead pick centrists like Lael Brainard for Treasury and Tony Blinken or Sen. Chris Coons for State if he hopes to work with a Republican Senate. McConnell will also fight fiercely against Biden’s plans to rejoin the Paris climate pact and the Iran nuclear deal. According to the Washington Post, upon his inauguration day 74 days from now, Biden plans to swiftly issue executive orders reversing Trump’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization, repealing the ban on immigration from some Muslim-majority countries, and reinstating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that allows immigrants called “Dreamers” to remain in the country.
But McConnell’s dominance of the Senate remains unclear. Biden’s presidency will be, in fact, a test case of whether politics can still exist as it once did in the past or whether the polarization is too great to overcome.
Yet there is also a sense that many in the nation are tired of the anger, the divisiveness, and Trump’s tweet-a-minute presidency. They want action, they want calm, and, above all, they want an effective COVID-19 relief package. And if any degree of comity can be restored to Washington, it may be Biden who can do it—as even some of his former Republican Senate colleagues have said.
In an appearance in Wilmington, Delaware, Saturday evening after he was declared president-elect, Biden made an impassioned speech invoking the Bible and calling for a national healing, saying this was an “inflection point” for reclaiming “the soul of America.”
“I’ll call on Congress, Republicans and Democrats, to make those choices with me,” said the president-elect, who will be, at 78, the oldest president ever inaugurated.
Coming together will be no easy task, especially if McConnell—who once famously said his only task was to obstruct Obama and prevent him from getting a second term—becomes majority leader of the Senate again. As Obama’s vice president, Biden was often the one who was called on to reach out to Republicans—for example, obtaining the three votes needed to put Obama’s Recovery Act over the top. Obama was a president who “didn’t have the schmooze gene,” Jonathan Alter wrote in The Center Holds, one of his accounts of the Obama presidency.
Biden, by contrast, has for decades been one of the biggest glad-handers on Capitol Hill, and he and McConnell have spent hours negotiating budget, deficit, and other bills. As Politico noted, McConnell was the only Senate Republican to attend Biden’s son Beau’s funeral. Before he retired from the Senate in 2011, Sen. Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican, even urged the Obama White House to bring Biden more into play. “They’d be very smart to bring him more into a role of managing and dealing with Congress,” Gregg told me. “They’ve not done a great job of dealing with Republican members, especially the leadership, Mitch McConnell, Jon Kyl, and Lamar Alexander. Clearly all three have a great personal relationship with Biden.”
These relationships go back many decades, Biden advocates say, especially when it came to forging a common front on foreign policy. “In the Balkan crises—Bosnia and Croatia in 1992-95; Kosovo in 1997-99—Biden’s GOP counterparts in leading the push for U.S. military involvement were Bob Dole and John McCain,” said his former Senate aide Haltzel. “Biden traveled to Bosnia with Dole and in subsequent years talked with him several times a week about the Balkan situation.” Haltzel also noted that when it came to NATO enlargement “nothing could be more of an indication of Biden’s bipartisan ability than the fact that the GOP asked him to be floor manager of the bill (March/April 1998) accepting Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary into NATO. That was simply unprecedented. It recognized, first of all, Biden’s unequaled expertise on the subject and, second, the trust they had in him.”
“He understands governance better than anyone else,” former Republican Sen. and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told me in an interview in 2010, saying it was he who advised Barack Obama to pick Biden as his running mate in 2008. “In particular, he understands Congress.”
In any case, for Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., a self-described regular guy who has spent most of his political career trying rather desperately to be taken seriously by his peers and the public, this is a golden and crowning moment. He has become only the sixth vice president in U.S. history to be elected outright (rather than succeed a deceased president), following John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Van Buren, Richard Nixon, and George H.W. Bush. And his victory is a remarkable capstone to an improbable career in which his several bids to become president appeared to be done with four years ago when Hillary Clinton edged him aside—and ultimately lost to Trump.
Now he needs to do what he has said he will do: heal a badly broken country.
Update, Nov. 7, 2020: This story has been updated with Biden’s remarks as president-elect.