The first debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump was watched closely around the world, not just in the U.S., with foreign leaders and countries paying attention to their statements, especially on foreign policy.
According to BBC, in Moscow, Russia was particularly interested in how Trump responded to questions about the Ukraine war.
When asked if he wanted Ukraine to win, Trump avoided giving a direct answer, saying he just wanted the war to stop. This likely pleased the Kremlin, which has been watching for any signs that the U.S. election might benefit Russia.
On the other hand, Kamala Harris spoke strongly in support of Ukraine, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of aiming to take over more parts of Europe.
This difference in approach was clear, with Trump focusing on ending the war while Harris emphasized Ukraine’s right to defend itself.
In Ukraine, there was concern about Trump’s comments. Many fear that if Trump were re-elected, it might lead to a deal that would force Ukraine to give up some of its land to Russia. Harris, however, reassured Ukrainians that she would maintain strong U.S. support for Ukraine. BBC noted that this stark difference in opinion could have big implications for Ukraine’s future depending on the outcome of the U.S. election.
Meanwhile, in China, Kamala Harris remains somewhat of an unknown figure. BBC explained that Chinese leaders don’t fully know how she would handle U.S.-China relations, but her statements in the debate did suggest that she would take a tough stance.
Trump, in contrast, proposed high tariffs on Chinese goods, which would continue the trade war he started in 2018, something China doesn’t want as it tries to recover its economy.
In the Middle East, Trump’s bold statement that Israel might not survive if Harris becomes president caught attention.
BBC explained that Trump’s stronger ties with Israeli leaders have led some to believe he might be more supportive of Israel if re-elected, while Harris, who has shown some willingness to challenge Israel, might take a different approach.
Overall, this debate gave the world a clearer view of how each candidate might handle international issues, and countries are now watching closely to see who will lead the U.S. next.
BBC was the main source for all these insights.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wj9qejrpwo