As soon as the major American broadcast networks announced Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as winners of the US election on November 7, congratulations poured in from around the world. In the ensuing days, the new president-elect began speaking on the phone with leaders of some of America’s most traditional allies, who were all keen to stress the closeness of their countries’ respective relationships with the US.
The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, was the first to speak with Biden in a conversation that touched on COVID-19, climate change and global security. The Irish taoiseach, Micheál Martin, said his call with Biden, who has Irish ancestry, was a “warm conversation”, while a call with Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, stressed the importance of transatlantic cooperation.
Experts from around the world have been analysing what the US election results mean on The Conversation in recent days. Here is a round-up of some of the themes that have emerged – and the global challenges and opportunities ahead for a Biden administration.