Washington: Only a few days are left for the US Presidential elections. Voting for the post of President is to be held in America on November 5. Latest surveys show that there is a close contest between Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris and Republican Party candidate Donald Trump. In such a situation, the eyes of the whole world are fixed on the US Presidential elections. Kamala Harris is currently the Vice President, so many experts fear that she will carry forward the policies of the Biden administration. However, he has denied this. At the same time, Donald Trump has been the President of America before also. In such a situation, there is a fear that he will prefer to follow the policies of his tenure only. In such a situation, know who the global leaders like more as US President between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
Vladimir Putin, Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has, perhaps jokingly, said that he would prefer Kamala Harris as President. Despite this, many signs point to Putin actually wanting Trump to win. “Putin would prefer Trump as president for a variety of reasons,” Timothy Ashe, associate fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at Chatham House, told Al Jazeera. “First of all, Putin thinks Trump is soft on Russia and would be willing to give him a big deal on Ukraine. Putin wants to cut U.S. military support to Ukraine and lift sanctions on Russia,” he said.
Timothy Ashe said, “I think Putin sees his own image in Trump. He probably thinks Trump is easier to understand and explain.” Furthermore, Putin “hates” the system of Western liberal market democracy, and “thinks Trump will remain where he left off in Trump 1.0.” America’s relations with institutions such as the European Union and NATO during Trump’s first term However, Russian analysts say that regardless of who wins, Putin will remain vocal about his views on American presidential politics. Since then he has repeatedly endorsed candidates.
Xi Jinping, China
Chinese President Xi Jinping has not offered any public support. Like Russia, both Democrats and Republicans have taken a tough stance toward China. During his presidency, Trump started a trade war with China by imposing tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports in 2018. China retaliated by imposing tariffs on $110 billion of US imports. It seems unlikely he would back down from this if elected, but Democrats could also rally against China’s growing influence around the world. When Joe Biden became president, he kept the Trump administration’s tariffs in place. In addition, on September 13 this year, the Biden administration announced an increase in tariffs on some Chinese-made products. If Harris wins, she is expected to remain in line with Biden’s policy toward China.
Neither Trump nor Harris have detailed what their actions would be toward China if elected. Despite Trump’s trade war, he has boasted of good relations with Xi. After Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 14, he said at a rally that world leaders had contacted him. “I got along very well with President Xi. He’s a great man, he wrote me a beautiful note when he heard what happened.” However, NBC News quoted Jia Qingguo, former dean of the School of International Studies at Peking University, as saying that behind the scenes, Chinese officials May be slightly inclined towards Harris.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly endorsed either candidate. However, it is widely believed that he is leaning towards a Trump victory. Netanyahu and Trump had good relations during the former US President’s first term. In 2019, at the Israeli-American Council, Trump said: “The Jewish state has never had a better friend in the White House than your president.” The feelings were mutual. Netanyahu said in a 2020 statement that Trump was “the greatest friend Israel ever had in the White House”.
After Biden was elected, relations between Trump and Netanyahu soured. When Biden took oath, Netanyahu congratulated him. In an interview, Trump said that he felt cheated by this. However, the Israeli PM has tried to rekindle the old relationship. During his visit to the US in July this year, Netanyahu met Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Axios reported that a Netanyahu aide even traveled to Mar-a-Lago ahead of the two leaders’ actual meeting to read excerpts from Netanyahu’s book praising Trump.
The Israeli PM also posted a video on social media expressing grief about the assassination attempt on Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania in July, which Trump reposted on his social media platform, Truth Social. At the same time, the Biden administration has shown unwavering diplomatic and military support to Netanyahu’s government amid Israel’s war on Gaza, where the death toll of Palestinians stands at 43,061 as of October 29, according to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA. Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza on October 7 last year, Biden’s government has sent billions of dollars of military aid to Israel.
Narendra Modi, India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has close relations with former President Donald Trump. However, Modi was also one of the first world leaders to congratulate Joe Biden on his 2020 election victory. “I don’t believe Modi will give preference to one candidate over another,” Kshitij Bajpai, senior research fellow in the South Asia, Asia-Pacific program at UK-based think tank Chatham House, told Al Jazeera. “There is a high level of bipartisan consensus in Washington on deepening ties with India and viewing it as a long-term strategic partner – arguably as much consensus as there is on viewing China as a long-term strategic rival,” Bajpai wrote in a letter. Is on view.”
He wrote that the three major pillars of America’s engagement with India are that India is the world’s largest democracy, America sees India as a bulwark against China and India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world. . Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Washington, DC-based Wilson Center think tank, told Al Jazeera that the Indian government will consider the pros and cons of both candidates. When it comes to Trump, “there may be a feeling in New Delhi that this will be a good thing for India because there may be a perception that Trump will not make a fuss about internal matters in India, including human rights issues.” Despite this, the Indian government will be concerned about Trump’s “unpredictable” governance style.
Title: Election 2024: Insights and Implications for Global Politics
Interviewer (Time.news Editor): Good day, everyone. Today, we are on the brink of what could be one of the most consequential elections in U.S. history. Joining us to discuss the international implications of the upcoming presidential race, which is just days away, is expert Timothy Ashe, an associate fellow at Chatham House specializing in Russia and Eurasia. Timothy, thank you for taking the time to speak with us.
Timothy Ashe: Thank you for having me. It’s an important moment in global politics, and I’m glad to be here.
Interviewer: The elections on November 5 pit Vice President Kamala Harris against former President Donald Trump. Initial surveys indicate it’s a tight contest. How do you see this dynamic affecting global perceptions, particularly among leaders like Vladimir Putin?
Timothy Ashe: Well, it’s fascinating. Vladimir Putin has publicly joked that he’d prefer Harris, but the reality is much more complex. In many ways, he is likely rooting for Trump. From his perspective, Trump has shown a certain leniency toward Russia, especially when it comes to easing sanctions or negotiating on Ukraine. This gives Putin a sense of certainty and predictability.
Interviewer: So, you’re suggesting that despite Putin’s apparent jest, he sees Trump as a more favorable candidate?
Timothy Ashe: Absolutely. I believe Putin sees a reflection of his own approach in Trump—an affinity for a strongman style of leadership and a disdain for Western liberalism. If Trump returns to office, there’s a risk that we will see a revival of his previous policies, which many analysts believe would embolden Russia further.
Interviewer: Shifting gears to China, President Xi Jinping hasn’t publicly endorsed either candidate. Yet, given the history of trade wars initiated during Trump’s presidency, how do you think a Biden administration, or a Harris-led one, might approach China differently?
Timothy Ashe: That’s a crucial question. Both candidates have moderate positions regarding China, yet there’s significant continuity between Trump’s and Biden’s policies. Harris is likely to follow Biden’s lead, maintaining the tariffs and the tougher diplomatic stance. Despite Trump’s rhetoric about his personal relationships with Xi, his economic policies had substantial long-term impacts that wouldn’t simply vanish if he were re-elected.
Interviewer: Looking at Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to have a personal history with Trump, calling him “the greatest friend Israel ever had in the White House.” How important do you think his preference could be for the U.S.-Israel relationship?
Timothy Ashe: Netanyahu’s lean towards Trump is very telling. Their relationship brought Israel closer to the U.S., at least politically. However, with Biden in office, Israel has retained strong support, especially regarding military aid amidst ongoing conflicts. Nevertheless, if Trump returns, we might see a dramatic shift back to more unilateral support for Israeli policies, much to Netanyahu’s delight.
Interviewer: What does it mean for other global leaders watching this election? How do you think they will recalibrate their strategies post-election, regardless of who wins?
Timothy Ashe: Whether it’s Trump or Harris, every leader will have to tread carefully. For Russia, expectations may fluctuate dramatically based on which candidate wins. For China, the opportunities for engagement will be limited, as both candidates are likely to engage in a tough trade stance. For NATO allies, consistency from the U.S. would be appreciated, but if Trump takes office, there’s a chance of further fracturing within the alliance.
Interviewer: As we stand just days away from the election, it feels as though the stakes are incredibly high. What are your final thoughts on what this election represents for global politics?
Timothy Ashe: This election is not just about who leads the U.S.; it’s a referendum on how America chooses to engage with the world. Leaders across the globe will be watching closely as the outcome could either reinforce a cooperative approach to international relations or signal a return to isolationism and potential geopolitical tensions. We are at a crossroads, and the implications will be profound.
Interviewer: Thank you, Timothy. Your insights are invaluable as we approach this pivotal moment. We hope to have you back post-election to discuss what this means moving forward.
Timothy Ashe: Thank you for the opportunity. I look forward to it.