The newly appointed UK Prime Minister Theresa May surprised everyone with her choice of foreign secretary for UK’s future cabinet--Boris Johnson. Johnson was considered an unlikely choice for the job and his preference elicited mixed reactions-ranging from bemusement to worry--from politicians and media outlets around the globe.
Reactions in the U.S……
In the U.S., Johnson is considered something of an outspoken figure and "has controversially bucked the Western trend and praised Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for battling the Islamic State,” according to one Washington newspaper. Upon hearing about Johnson’s selection, State department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters that “the US will always work with the UK due to the ‘special relationship’ between the two countries and that the US/UK relationship “goes beyond personalities.”
in Europe…
The German magazine, Der Spiegel, called Johnson a "controversial politician" and noted that his decision to support a Leave vote was a deciding factor in the referendum campaign. German chancellor, Angela Merkel, declined to comment on May’s surprise decision but told reporters she believed “it is our task to work closely with governments in allied countries.”
Elsewhere in Europe, the former prime minister of Sweden, Carl Bildt, tweeted that he wished the appointment were a joke, but “I fear it isn’t. “
and in Asia….
Russia kept away from the tongue-in-cheek reactions of the other major nations and offered a more hopeful view of Johnson’s new position. The head of the Russian State Duma's foreign affairs committee, Aleksey Pushkov, observed that Johnson's predecessor, Philip Hammond, had "painful anti-Russian fixations" and he hoped Johnson did not share these neuroses.
And the Russian news website ria.ru called Johnson "one of the most eccentric politicians in the UK" and remarked that he "knows how to surprise."
The reaction in China was one of shock especially in Beijing’s diplomatic circles. One senior western diplomat admitted that “the idea of having Boris Johnson as foreign secretary never even entered my mind” and described Johnson’s appointment as a risky move that had the potential to backfire badly.
Other observers avoided comment on the former London mayor’s foreign policy experience and focused instead on his hair.
Down under, The Australian called Johnson "gaffe-prone" and printed a list of his slip-ups. It reported his appointment as "an astonishing comeback" after he bowed out of the race to become prime minister. Former Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, however, wrote that it was good to see Johnson as the new UK foreign secretary adding that he is “a good friend of Australia.”
No Turkish Reaction
There has been no reaction yet from Turkey. In May of this year, Johnson was awarded a £1,000 prize from the Spectator, a magazine of which he is a former editor, for a poem in which he called the Turkish president a rude name. The newspaper Haber Turk mentioned the Johnson appointment but did not mention the limerick he penned insulting the Turkish president.