LONDON — Most world leaders were still going to congratulate Donald Trump on his presidential victoryas they did early Wednesday before it was even officially declared the winner.

Some – like right-wingers and populists in Israel, India, the Gulf and Europe – rejoiced. Many of America’s traditional allies, meanwhile, hints at their discomfort but also a pragmatic desire to make the most of of their new reality: four more years of a man who has undermined Washington’s friends And strengthened his autocratic enemiestried to cancel the 2020 elections And denied basic climate science.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was “the greatest comeback in history!” » While his ultranationalist Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir job “Yesssss” followed by the American and Israeli flags and a muscle emoji.

In India, the world’s largest democracy, populist Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his “My most sincere congratulations, my friend.” And Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, accused by human rights groups of attacking democratic dissent and the rule of law, led the celebrations among The rise of ultranationalists in Europesaying he would pop champagne corks.

“Italy and the United States are ‘sister’ nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values ​​and historic friendship,” said far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. written the. “This is a strategic link that I am sure we will strengthen even further. »

Orbán and Meloni are outliers in Europe, where most leaders were hoping for a Harris victory, according to officials and experts examining their shared policies and style.

Few would say that, given the 50% chance of dealing with Trump in January. And in this case, they were too quick to send their congratulations, reflecting the need to maintain good relations with Washington.

French President Emmanuel Macron — who many considered a sort of “Trump whisperer” during his first term – said he was “ready to work together as we have done for four years”, in a post on. “With your beliefs and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.

In parallel message written in FrenchHowever, Macron said he had a meeting with his German counterpart, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a conversation that reflected the harsh reality Europe now faces.

He and Scholz discussed the “new context” given to Europe by this election, according to the French leader’s position, which requires “cooperating with the United States of America” ​​and also “defending our interests and our values “.

Likewise, NATO chief Mark Rutte said Trump would do it “will once again be key to maintaining the strength of our alliance” and that he will “look forward to working with him again to advance peace through force.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a former human rights lawyer for the center-left Labor Party, said in a statement“I look forward to working with you in the years to come.”

“As our closest allies, we defend our shared values ​​of freedom, democracy and enterprise side by side,” he wrote.

Starmer’s Labor party has attempted to build bridges with the Trump campaign in recent months, attempting to repair relations after his foreign minister, David Lammy, called Trump a ‘sociopath neo-Nazi sympathizer’, a ‘racist “, “sexist” and “neo-Nazi sociopath”. “homophobic” in 2018.

Among the main fears of Europe and NATO are Trump will abandon NATO and withdraw support for Ukraine, thereby crushing its defense against Russia, emboldening President Vladimir Putin to attack another ally, and paving the way for a redrawing of Europe’s borders.

Nevertheless, many in Ukraine have demonstrated a determined – if perhaps sinister – realpolitik towards the man who holds the purse strings of their rearguard military action.

President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Trump’s “decisive leadership” and his “‘peace through strength’ approach to world affairs.”

Some Ukrainians have been disconcerted by what they saw as President Joe Biden’s equivocal support — despite totaling some $175 billion since 2022 — and say they are optimistic that Trump can deliver a fresh start .

Poland’s foreign minister, who as a neighbor of Russia and Ukraine has often sounded the alarm about Russia’s intentions towards the continent, said that “Europe must urgently take greater responsibility for its safety.”

“The wind of history blows stronger and stronger”, Radek Sikorski written the. “Polish leaders will be up to the task. »

Freed from the responsibility of having to maintain diplomatic relations with Trump, some European mayors appear more willing to speak openly about the president-elect.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said Trump’s victory was “bad news for the world, democracies, Europe, the climate, women and Ukraine, a country fighting for our freedom.” . She accused Trump of “playing his role” in undermining democracy and the rule of law.

His London counterpart, Mayor Sadiq Khan, in conflict with Trump, said many Londoners would be “worried about the outcome of the US presidential election”. And “many will worry about what this will mean for democracy and women’s rights, or what impact the outcome will have on the situation in the Middle East or the fate of Ukraine,” he added. . “Others will worry about the future of NATO or the fight against the climate crisis. »

Beijing probably also sees danger in Trump’s unpredictability as well as his promise of 60% tariffs on Chinese goods. But he could also see an opportunity in what is seen as his isolationist ability to diminish American influence around the world.

True to form, China declined to comment on Wednesday, with its Foreign Ministry saying Beijing would continue to manage US-China relations “based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.”

Also missing from the growing list of congratulatory messages is Russia, whose dealings with Trump have sparked feverish speculation and official investigations.

“I am not aware of the president’s intentions to congratulate Trump on his election,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “Let us not forget that we are talking about a hostile nation, directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.”

Russian officials, speaking to NBC News, said they were preparing for the change.

“There’s less predictability,” a Russian diplomat unauthorized to speak on the record told NBC News, adding cryptically: “The outcome is not the most interesting part; the best is what comes next.