World leaders have expressed their shock and sadness over the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Abe was Japan’s longest-serving leader before leaving office for health reasons in 2020.
The 67-year-old man was shot during a campaign speech on Friday, in a rare incident in the island country. (New) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the former leader’s death as “devastating news”.
Albanese sent “our deepest condolences and condolences to Mrs Abe and to Mr Abe’s family and friends, and to the people of Japan” on behalf of Australia.
“Mr Abe was one of Australia’s closest friends on the world stage,” Albanese said in a statement.
“It was his vision that helped elevate our bilateral relationship to a special strategic partnership in 2014.
Governor General David Hurley expressed his “deep sadness over the passage in tragic circumstances” of the former Japanese Prime Minister (AP Photo / Kazuhiro Nogi)
“Under his leadership, Japan became one of Australia’s closest allies in Asia, a legacy that endures today.”
Governor General David Hurley expressed his “deep sadness at the passing in tragic circumstances” of the former Japanese Prime Minister.
“The thoughts of Linda and mine, and the thoughts of all Australians, are with Mr Abe’s family and the people of Japan,” he said.
“Mr Abe was the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese history. He was a great friend of Australia, a prominent contributor to the Australia-Japan relationship and was admired around the world for his authority and diplomacy. .
“His family and the people of Japan are major in the thoughts of all Australians at this difficult time.
“Australia is on Japan’s side to mourn its loss.”
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Abe died “in a shocking act of violence”.
“Australia has lost a great friend and Japan has lost its most important leader after the war,” he said.
“This is a terrible loss for Japan, for Australia and for a world where democracies are strong and together.”
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Japan has much “its most important modern leader.”
“Downcast by an assassin, Abe Shinzo’s powerful positive impact on his country and our region will endure,” he said.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Abe was “deeply committed to her role, but also generous and kind”.
“My thoughts are with his wife and the people of Japan,” he said.
“Events like this shake us all to the core.”
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called the shooting “an intolerable criminal act,” his office said.
Turkish leaders in Singapore condemned the attack, while Iran described the shooting as “an act of terrorism”.
“As a country that has been a victim of terrorism and has lost great leaders to terrorists, we are following the news closely and with concern,” the spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry said.
India announced a day of mourning in honor of Abe.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “shocked and saddened beyond words by the tragic disappearance of one of my dearest friends”.
“He was a great global statesman, an exceptional leader and a remarkable administrator,” he said.
“He dedicated his life to making Japan and the world a better place.”
“Many will remember his global leadership in unprecedented times,” he said.
“My thoughts are with his family, his friends and the Japanese people.
“The UK is with you in this dark and sad time.”
While Queen Elizabeth sent her condolences in a sincere message to the people of Japan, sent to her royal companion, the Emperor of Japan.
“My family and I were deeply saddened to hear the news of the sudden and tragic death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,” His Majesty said in a statement at Buckingham Palace.
“I have fond memories of meeting Mr Abe and his wife during their visit to the UK in 2016. His love for Japan and his desire to forge ever closer ties with the UK, were clear.
I want to convey my deepest condolences and condolences to his family and the people of Japan at this difficult time. “
Jordanian King Abdullah II said he was deeply shocked and saddened by the attack. “The world lost a great leader, and Jordan and I lost a true friend,” the monarch tweeted.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, tweeted his “deepest condolences to his family and the people of Japan at this difficult time.”
“This heinous act of violence has no excuse,” he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday sent a personal letter of condolence to Abe’s family, calling him “an exceptional statesman.”
“Please accept my deepest condolences for the death of your son and husband, Shinzo Abe,” Putin wrote in the letter to Abe’s mother and wife.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a personal letter of condolence to Abe’s family (Photo AP / Ivan Sekretarev)
U.S. President Joe Biden said he was “surprised, outraged and deeply saddened by the news that my friend Abe Shinzo, Japan’s former prime minister, was shot dead while campaigning.”
In a statement issued by the White House, Biden said: “Above all, [Abe] he cared deeply for the Japanese people and dedicated his life to their service. Even at the time he was attacked, he was engaged in the task of democracy.
“While there are many details we still don’t know, we know that violent attacks are never acceptable and that armed violence always leaves a deep scar on the affected communities. The United States is on Japan’s side at this time of mourning. my deepest condolences to his family. “
Abe was a close ally of US Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. His relationship with Trump was especially notable given the Republican president’s attempt to warm up relations with North Korea and the generally cold reception he received from other world leaders.
Trump said the former Japanese prime minister is a “truly great man” and “a true friend of mine and … America” (AP Photo / Eugene Hoshiko)
Trump praised Abe in a couple of posts on Social Truth, calling his death “a tremendous blow to the wonderful people of Japan.”
“Few people know what a great man and leader Shinzo Abe was, but history will teach them and be kind,” Trump wrote. “He was a unifier like no other, but most of all, he was a man who loved and cherished his magnificent country.”
The former president also called for Abe’s killer to be “treated quickly and harshly.”
Obama said he was “shocked and saddened by the murder of my longtime friend and colleague.”
Obama said he was “shocked and saddened by the murder of my longtime friend and colleague.” (Photo by AP / Carolyn Kaster)
“Former Prime Minister Abe devoted himself both to the country he served and to the extraordinary alliance between the United States and Japan,” Obama wrote on Twitter.
“I will always remember the work we did to strengthen our alliance, the touching experience of traveling together to Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor and the grace he and his wife Akie Abe showed me and Michelle.”
European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described Abe as “a wonderful person, a great Democrat and a supporter of the multilateral world order” in a tweet on Friday.
“I cry with his family, his friends and all the people of Japan. This brutal and cowardly murder of Shinzo Abe is shocking the whole world,” he said.
After Abe was shot, but before his death was confirmed, China’s Foreign Ministry sent its condolences to Abe’s family.
“We are following developments and we hope that former Prime Minister Abe will be safe and recover soon. We would certainly like to send our greetings to his family,” ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a conference press release Friday afternoon.
Colombian President Ivan Duque also expressed great sorrow on behalf of Colombians, and wrote in a tweet: “We will always remember him as a leader very close to Colombia. Solidarity with his family and the Japanese people.”
The director general of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic death” of the former leader.
“My deepest condolences to his family and the people of Japan,” he said.
“He will be greatly missed.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a tweet that he was “surprised and deeply saddened” by Abe’s death, saying the country “will be close to Japan”.
Israeli leaders also spoke, with Prime Minister Yair Lapid praising Abe as “one of the most important leaders in modern Japan and a true friend of Israel.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog also issued a statement, saying he was “horrified by the despicable assassination of Shinzo Abe, one of Japan’s most prominent leaders in modern times.”
Leaders from Germany, Pakistan, Sweden and the Philippines were also among those who gave their condolences, and many countries such as Spain and France expressed their solidarity with Japan.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose tenure between 2005 and 2021 largely overlapped with Abe’s, said she was “deeply shocked and devastated” by the “cowardly and vile murder”. “.
“My first thoughts are with his wife and family,” he said in a statement. “It hurts me with them. I wish them comfort and support.”
The Taiwanese government said “Abe spared no effort to push forward the progress of Taiwan-Japan relations for many years,” and noted his efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic for the Japanese government to give vaccines to Taiwan.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi offered his deepest condolences and said Italy embraced Abe’s family, the government and the Japanese people.
“Italy is heartbroken by the terrible attack on Japan and its free and democratic debate. Abe has been a major figure in Japanese and international political life in recent decades, thanks to his innovative spirit and reformist vision,” Draghi said in a statement.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt noted that Abe was assassinated “while campaigning for his party colleagues. All politicians should be safe while carrying out their work for democracy.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi, who …