After Obama’s midterm drubbing, world asks what’s next for U.S. relations

Many international observers were quick to declare Tuesday’s election the start of President Obama’s lame-duck term, noting his unwanted distinction of having lost the most congressional seats of any president since World War II. While few weighed in immediately on what the shift might mean to Obama’s foreign policy, they also pointed to several high profile trade issues – from pipelines to major trade pacts – that could gain traction in the GOP-controlled Congress. With pro-business Republicans set to control both chambers of Congress for the first time in nearly a decade, much overseas commentary has focused on international trade.

On the defence and security fronts, this includes the prospect of a significant depletion of so-called Islamic State’s territorial foothold and capabilities in Iraq and Syria.

Andrew Hammond, an associate at LSE Ideas, a London-based think tank

In Canada, the Toronto Star speculates that the Republican sweep might have “created the winning conditions” for the construction of the contentious Keystone XL pipeline. “Good news for Canadian jobs & economy,” tweeted Jason Kenney, Canada’s minister of Employment, Social Development, and Multiculturalism. Outside of global business circles, international reaction to the midterm election results has varied more widely. Some experts predict that Obama will shift his focus to foreign policy amid diminished chances of reaching agreements with Republicans on domestic issues.

I believe this ‘democratic failure’ is a personal defeat of Obama, the result of his very low ratings, a sharp deterioration of his image, as he has evolved from the president of hope to the president of disappointment.

Alexey Pushkov, who heads the foreign affair committee in Russia’s lower house of parliament

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