As US television networks called the election result on Sunday, most world leaders congratulating the President-elect Joe Biden.
For four years, President Donald Trump dominated the spotlight on the world stage, criticising foes and allies alike and bashing international institutions - many of which America helped create.
But while many world leaders have welcomed the change of leadership, which they hope will usher in a less-chaotic US foreign policy, some key nations have kept their silence.
China and Russia are yet to issue any statements congratulating Mr Biden, potentially waiting for Mr Trump to concede defeat.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has been a noted fan of Mr Trump’s and was widely accused by US intelligence agencies of meddling in the 2016 US election to help him get elected.
Mr Trump has been more friendly with Russia than previous American presidents, and a Biden administration may usher in a return to the hostile relations between the two nations - as was the case the last time Mr Biden was in office, under the former Obama administration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is yet to congratulate Joe Biden on his election win. Source: AAP
China’s silence is more surprising, especially given the heated rhetoric and actions on trade that the Trump administration took against Beijing. However, Mr Biden has previously signalled he will take a hard line against the rising superpower on trade.
Just south of the US border wall, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has also been cautious, saying he won’t congratulate Mr Biden until Mr Trump’s legal challenges to the election result have been resolved.
US-Mexican relations hit a historic low under President Trump, with the border wall, the separation of families at the border and other issues relating to migration and trade souring the relationship.
Despite the tensions, Mr Lopez Obrador maintained a cordial working relationship with Mr Trump, and was still heaping praise on the president on Saturday as the election result hung in the balance.
Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, another key Trump ally who is sometimes referred to as the “Trump of the Tropics” due to his brash populist style, also declined to congratulate Mr Biden on his win.
In Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman did not congratulate Mr Biden until Monday, fuelling earlier speculation that he could also refuse to do so.
President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at the White House. Source: EPA
The Crown Prince has enjoyed closer ties with the US under Mr Trump’s leadership and is said to have a close personal relationship with the president.
