From Russia to Mexico, world leaders are weighing in on the US midterms, where a historic Democratic victory has dealt a major blow to Republicans and US President Donald Trump.
Democrats have won a majority of seats in the Senate and House of Representatives in the historic election — flipping seven seats previously held by Republicans.
As votes were counted, the US midterms drew attention worldwide, with the outcome carrying significance beyond the country's borders after two years of Trump administration policies that have affected countries across the globe.
Now, world leaders from several countries have reacted to the results.
Some have openly welcomed Democrats taking power in the US Congress, while others are discussing how this might impact conflicts around the world.
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In response to the results, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said, "I feel the world has an opportunity now to unite around the issue that is affecting us all, and that's the cost of living".
"I think people want to see the world coming together and focusing on the things that matter to people, and that's what the voters, in my view, are saying in the United States: let's get focused in a laser-like way on those cost of living issues," he said.
"Around the world there's a recognition that countries can't do that on their own and can't do that when we have division between nations."
French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot also described the results of the US midterm elections as "very good news" for the country's democracy.
"American voters literally walked over the ballot boxes to take back control, to make their voices heard, a turnout that reached an absolute record, driven notably by the mobilization of young people and of states that had been anchored in one camp for decades and that suddenly swung," he said.
During the midterms campaigns, Trump criticised France's politics several times by citing the country's nationwide protests , saying "If you want to see what is at stake in this election, just look at what’s happening in France".
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also welcomed the election results.
"The American people voted against policies that only serve to impoverish people. Against hatred. Against sexism. Against climate denial and against the privileges of the elites," he said.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also said the results reflect public sentiment, highlighting victories by candidates of Mexican origin for governor in Texas and California.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also said the results will "introduce a new era in world relations."
"We have seen that the Democrats have taken control of the Senate and of the House, and the people of America have spoken," he said.
The election's potential impact on US policy towards Russia's invasion of Ukraine has also featured in reactions from world leaders.
During his presidency, Trump has clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on several occasions and threatened to cut US military support for Ukraine.
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said on Wednesday that he was "optimistic that there will now be more discussions in Congress, including between both parties, about what can be done together to support Ukraine".
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also said she hopes "the new Congress and the new Senate will continue supporting Ukraine and also putting more pressure on Russia".
"Let's see what happens now, but elections have results," she said.
On the other hand, Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, has said: "The Democratic Party leadership's approach to relations with Russia is sharply negative".
"Our principled and consistent line regarding Ukraine — as well as our foreign policy in general — is not based on short-term considerations and, naturally, does not depend on the fluctuations of the political barometer in other countries," he said.
The election's potential impact on the future of the war in the Middle East has also drawn international attention, with many watching to see whether the result could shift the country's approach to the region.
In recent weeks, there have been indirect negotiations between the US and Iran for a potential peace deal, while Trump has threatened to attack Iran multiple times.
Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibas said the midterm results mean Americans have said: "no to war".
"We endorse this message. If the US [government] betrays their public will to serve international paymasters and blackmailers, it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare," he wrote on X
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political rival, Gadi Eisenkot, — who is on the path to replace him after the country's election if he can form a majority in the parliament — has said that under his leadership Israel will restore ties with Washington.
"We will renew and deepen this partnership, strengthen the bipartisan foundations it has relied on for years, and work to advance the entire Middle East," he said on X.
Yair Golan, head of Israel's centre-left opposition Democrats party, said on X that the US midterm election results "reveal just how toxic Netanyahu is among both Democrats and Republicans".
Centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid said the results showed "Israel cannot afford" for Netanyahu to remain in office.
- Additional reporting by Reuters news agency
