British Prime Minister David Cameron said he envisaged continued
cooperation with Obama. "I have really enjoyed working with him over
these last few years and I look forward to working with him again over
the next four years," he said.
French President Francois Hollande suggested that Obama's victory was a
signal that the United States would remain deeply engaged in
international issues. He called the victory "an important moment for the
United States and also for the world."
Israel, which had expressed frustration with Obama's diplomatic stance
on its adversary Iran, nonetheless welcomed his reelection.
President Shimon Peres expressed confidence Obama would "do whatever he
can" to reduce the threat of Iran's nuclear program. "What he said about
Iran he will do," he said. "I am convinced completely. The
responsibilities that are falling on his shoulders are not simple."
Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas also offered his
congratulations and called on Obama to continue efforts to achieve
Middle East peace.
Taliban Urges U.S. Withdrawal
Hamid Karzai and Asif Ali Zardari, the presidents of Afghanistan and
Pakistan, respectively, both offered their congratulations on Obama's
reelection and expressed hope for expanding ties with the United States.
Taliban insurgents, meanwhile, issued a statement calling on Obama to
admit that the United States has lost the war in Afghanistan and pull
its troops out immediately.
The foreign minister of Iraq congratulated Obama. Hoshyar Zebari told
RFE/RL that his country was ready to "solidify and strengthen" its
relations with the United States.
Obama oversaw the final pullout of U.S. military forces from Iraq at the
end of 2011, nine years after the start of a war launched by his
predecessor, George W. Bush. Violence and extremist attacks are seen as
rising in Iraq since the U.S. withdrawal.
In Egypt, where Obama gave a landmark 2009 speech on his hopes for the
Muslim world, President Muhammad Morsi praised Obama's win, saying he
hoped the U.S. administration would serve the interests of both the
American and the Egyptian people.
China's Foreign Ministry said President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao phoned Obama to congratulate him on his win. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who is due to assume the presidency
this week, made a congratulatory call to Obama's running mate, Vice
President Joe Biden.
The Dalai Lama also congratulated Obama, saying he had made "earnest
efforts to live up to ... the trust placed in you by the American public."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated Obama and urged him to
act quickly on ending the war in Syria and reviving the Middle East
peace process.
And the main opposition Syrian National Council also voiced hope on
November 7 that resolving the conflict in Syria would figure at the top
of Obama's agenda.