With Joe Biden projected to win the US presidential elections on Saturday, many world leaders hastened to congratulate him on his victory.
But not everyone has been so keen. In fact, some have been conspicuous in their absence. Here are some key international figures who have not sent messages of support or who have appeared lukewarm in their congratulations.
Some have gone even further, congratulating Mr Trump or backing unsubstantiated claims he has made about voter fraud. At least one minister has paid for his remarks with his job.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin
Four years ago Mr Putin was among the first to congratulate Donald Trump on his election victory, but there has been no tweet, telegram or phone call to Mr. Biden this time.
- Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa
Mr. Jansa has made no secret of his support for Mr. Trump, even tweeting his congratulations to the incumbent president on Wednesday, long before the vote counts were anywhere near completion.
- Estonian Interior Minister Mart Helme
Mr. Helme announced his resignation on Monday after he and his son, Finance Minister Martin Helme, made allegations about widespread fraud in the US election on a radio talk show on Sunday.
- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro
Mr Bolsonaro is often considered to be an ally of Mr. Trump, so much so that he has been described as the “Trump of the Tropics”.
The Brazilian leader’s failure so far to congratulate Mr. Biden, therefore, comes as no surprise.
- Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador
Mr. López Obrador is another Latin American leader who has tried to maintain good relations with Mr Trump, despite tensions over the US president’s hardline policy on migrants and in particular his pledge to build a wall along the two countries’ border.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Mr Netanyahu is another world leader who has never hidden his affinity for Mr. Trump.
And while he congratulated Mr. Biden, observers have noted the absence of the words “president-elect” and “vice-president-elect” in his message.
- Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
The Saudi crown prince has congratulated Mr. Biden on his election victory – but only on Sunday, 24 hours after the news broke. Other Middle Eastern leaders responded on Saturday.
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- Chinese President Xi Jinping
President Xi sent congratulations to Mr. Trump in 2016 the day after his poll victory.
But this time China has so far held off on giving any reaction to the US election results.
- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un
There has been no response to the election result from Mr Kim, indeed as of Monday morning North Korean state media outlets have been silent on the US elections.
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