Leaders across Northern Ireland have sent their well wishes to Democrat Joe Biden after his defeat of President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States.
Joe Biden topped the 270 electoral college votes needed for victory over Donald Trump in the US presidential race, it was announced on CNN.
The former vice-president was called as the winner of Pennsylvania on Saturday, meaning he has an insurmountable lead in the race for the White House.
First Minister Arlene Foster said: Congratulations Joe Biden and Kamala Harria. The United States administration whether Democrat or Republican, has always been willing to help and support us.
"A tremendously important relationship as we mark our centenary and plan for Northern Ireland’s second century."
Congratulating Mr Biden, Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill tweeted: "Congratulations to Joe Biden and to Kamala Harris the first woman vice president. Sending you both best wishes."
Ulster Unionist leader, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, said: "The election of Joe Biden, after one of the most bitterly contested US Presidential Elections in recent times, hopefully represents a turning point in the US democratic system.
"The President-elect has substantial challenges; to help defeat Covid; to provide international leadership in tackling the growing unrest in the Mid and Near Easts, but above all, to restore stability and faith in democracy within the United States itself. The polarisation of politics, which we here in Northern Ireland are regrettably all too familiar with, has infected the body politic in the United States. Solving that will be the new President’s biggest challenge.
"As to the implications for Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, there has been much speculation pre-election of the attitude of the new President and his administration to the Belfast Agreement and post-BREXIT trade, I would encourage those taking office to read the agreement, focus on the implications of an Irish Sea Border as much as one North/South and also to remember, in an increasingly unstable world, that the United Kingdom has been a steadfast ally of the United States across the globe – now is not the time to dismantle and fracture friendships when the standing of the US across much of the world has been so diminished. I look forward to his first visit to Northern Ireland as President of the United States."
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said they were "delighted" at the news on Saturday afternoon.
Mr Eastwood added: "It's taken some time to count all the votes but thankfully now Ireland has a friend in the White House. We know Joe Biden has been a friend of John Hume's, he's been a friend of Ireland, of our peace process.
"We are absolutely delighted to have somebody in the White House now who will be committed to protecting our peace process and working with his friends in Ireland to protect all that we have built."
