Praises for Shinzo Abe continued to pour in from politicians around the world, many of whom recalled their visit with the former leader and expressed shock at his killing.
French President Emmanuel Macron said “Japan has lost a great prime minister.”
“On behalf of the French people, I extend my condolences to the Japanese government and people after the assassination of Shinzo Abe. Japan has lost a great Prime Minister who dedicated his life to his country and worked to bring balance to the world,” Macron wrote on Twitter.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Abe’s assassination “shocking”, and praised Abe as a “great visionary leader” and “extraordinary partner” who has taken US-Japan relations “to the next level”. “.
“It’s incredibly disturbing in itself, it’s also a strong personal loss for a lot of people,” Blinken said Friday.
Several former leaders who worked with Prime Minister Abe during his time as prime minister also sent their condolences.
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron said Abe was “a good friend personally, a strong partner to the UK, and an absolutely decent and kind man.” He called his death “cruel and truly shocking.”
Former Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said he “will always miss Shinzo Abe and cherish our deep friendship”, while Nicolas Sarkozy, former prime minister of Francecalled him “a great leader who left his mark on the country of Japan.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Mr Abe called his death “extremely shocking”, adding that he was “deeply saddened”. Trudeau tweeted: “The world has lost a man of great vision and Canada has lost a dear friend. My thoughts are with his wife, Akie and the people of Japan as they mourn. for this loss. You will miss it, my friend.”
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro called Abe “an outstanding leader” in a tweet on Friday. “I am deeply outraged and saddened to learn of the death of @AbeShinzo, a great leader and great friend of Brazil. I send to the Abe family, as well as our Japanese brothers, my solidarity and my wish that God will watch over their souls during this painful time,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent “deepest condolences” to Abe’s family and the people of Japan. “Horrifying news of a brutal assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. My deepest condolences to his family and the people of Japan at this difficult time. This appalling act of violence has no reason at all,” Zelensky tweeted.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said she was “deeply saddened” by Abe’s departure, seeing the late leader as “Taiwan’s most loyal friend.” Tsai Ing-wen said Abe was “an old friend” she had known “for over a decade”.
UN Secretary General António Guterres tweeted his condolences on the assassination of Abe. “I am deeply saddened by the horrific death of Shinzo Abe, the former Prime Minister of Japan,” Guterres said. “I have had the honor of knowing him for many years and will always remember his collectivism and commitment to multilateralism. My deepest condolences to his family, people & Government of Japan. “
Former US President Barack Obama said he was “shocked and saddened” by Abe’s assassination. In a statement, he recounted the close relationship the two leaders forged during his second term and the “extraordinary alliance” between the two nations. In 2016, Obama went to Hiroshima with Abe – becoming the first sitting US president to do so – and later that year, Abe reciprocated the act, becoming the first Japanese prime minister to visit Pearl Harbor.
Former US President George W. Bushwho worked with Abe during his first term as Japan’s prime minister in 2006, said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened to learn of the senseless assassination”, adding that “Shinzo Abe is a patriot of his country wants to continue to serve. it.”
