A prominent economic adviser to Japan's prime minister says Tokyo should prepare for a "leaderless era" as U.S. global leadership gradually withers, and expand other strategic ties while bolstering its security alliance with Washington.

China and Russia held off congratulating U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on Monday, with Beijing saying it would follow usual custom in its response and the Kremlin noting incumbent Donald Trump's vow to pursue legal challenges.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President-elect Joe Biden spoke on Monday, discussing issues such as the coronavirus, climate change and NATO.

The presidents of Latin America's two largest countries have held back from congratulating Joe Biden for winning the U.S. presidential election, even as other leaders of allied countries around the globe sent their best wishes.

The Mexican president's hesitation over congratulating Joe Biden on his U.S. presidential election win drew flack from several Latino Democratic lawmakers who warned it risked souring a restart to bilateral ties after years of tension under Donald Trump.

The European Union's foreign policy chief on Monday extolled Joe Biden's victory in the U.S. election and, in a swipe at outgoing President Donald Trump, welcomed "the chance to work once again with a U.S. president who doesn't consider us a foe".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday congratulated Joe Biden on his U.S. presidential election win and called for the European Union and United States to work "side by side", but also said the EU must do more to provide for its own security.

The Kremlin said on Monday it would wait for the official results of the U.S. presidential election before commenting on its outcome, and that it had noted incumbent Donald Trump's announcement of legal challenges related to the vote.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk on Monday that not everything would change under U.S. President-elect Joe Biden but much would get better.

Taiwan's top China policy maker on Monday sought to reassure nervous lawmakers that Democrat Joe Biden will continue U.S. support for the Chinese-claimed island, which has benefited from strong backing by the outgoing administration of Donald Trump.