Jimmy Carter: World leaders react to death of 39th president

World leaders weighed in with condolences after learning of the death of former President Jimmy Carter.

Carter, 100, the nation’s 39th president who died on Sunday, famously brokered a Middle East peace deal between Israel and Egypt in 1978, normalized relationships with mainland China that began earlier in the 1970s when Richard Nixon visited the communist country, and signed a treaty that gave Panama control of the Panama Canal.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both expressed condolences on their official social media accounts, The Jerusalem Post reported.

“We will always remember President Carter’s role in forging the first Arab-Israeli peace treaty signed by Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, a peace treaty that has held for nearly half a century and offers hope for future generations,” Netanyahu wrote on X.

“In recent years I had the pleasure of calling him and thanking him for his historic efforts to bring together two great leaders, Begin and Sadat, and forging a peace between Israel and Egypt that remains an anchor of stability throughout the Middle East and North Africa many decades later,” Herzog wrote, referring to the 1978 Camp David Accords.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called Carter “a symbol of humanitarian and diplomatic efforts,” CNN reported.

“His deep belief in peace and justice has inspired many individuals and institutions around the world to follow his path. His efforts in preserving the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel will remain etched in history, and his humanitarian work demonstrate a standard of love, peace, and brotherhood,” el-Sisi said. “His legacy ensures that he will be remembered as one of the world’s most prominent leaders in service to humanity. May God have mercy on former President Jimmy Carter.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on X that Carter’s legacy “is one of compassion, kindness, empathy and hard work.”

“He served others both at home and around the world his entire life -- and he loved doing it,” Trudeau wrote. “He was always thoughtful and generous with his advice to me.”

“Throughout his life, Jimmy Carter has been a steadfast advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable and has tirelessly fought for peace,” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X. “France sends its heartfelt thoughts to his family and to the American people.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Carter’s memory “will always be cherished” in Hungary.

“By returning the Holy Crown to the people of Hungary at the end of the ‘70s, he gave freedom-loving Hungarians hope in a hopeless time,” Orban said. “I would like to express my deepest condolences to the Carter family and the American people.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to Carter’s “decades of selfless public service.”

“Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad,” Starmer wrote in a statement. “Whether supporting elections around the world and spreading healthcare solutions through the Carter Center or still building homes with Habitat for Humanity into his nineties, Jimmy Carter lived his values in the service of others to the very end. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”

King Charles III added that he had “great sadness” upon learning of Carter’s death.

“His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977,” the monarch said in a statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country appreciated Carter’s “steadfast commitment to Christian faith and democratic values.”

“He was a leader who served during a time when Ukraine was not yet independent, yet his heart stood firmly with us in our ongoing fight for freedom,” Zelensky said. “He devoted his life to promoting peace in the world and defending human rights. Today, let us remember: peace matters, and the world must remain united in standing against those who threaten these values. May his memory be eternal.”

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino lauded Carter for his commitment to handing over the Panama Canal, which was officially returned to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999.

“His time in the White House marked complex times, which were crucial for Panama in order to negotiate and agree on the Torrijos-Carter Treaties in 1977, which achieved the transfer of the canal to Panamanian hands and the full sovereignty of our country,” Mulino said. “May his soul rest in peace.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote that the United States “has lost a committed fighter for democracy.”

“The world has lost a great mediator for peace in the Middle East and for human rights,” Scholz wrote in a statement that was published on X.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that Carter was “a lover of democracy and a defender of peace.”

“Carter achieved the feat of having a job as a former president, over the decades, that was as important or even more important than his term in the White House,” da Silva said. “He criticized unilateral military actions by superpowers and the use of killer drones. He worked with Brazil to mediate conflicts in Venezuela and to help Haiti. He created The Carter Center, a world reference in democracy, human rights and dialogue.

“He will be remembered forever as a name that defended that peace is the most important condition for development. My condolences to his family, friends, co-religionists and compatriots at this time of farewell.”

Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said that Carter “was a key promoter and decision-maker” in establishing diplomatic relations between China and the U.S.

“Over the years, he made significant contributions to the development of China-US relations and the friendship between the two countries, which we highly commend,” Mao said.

Pope Francis said on Monday that he was “saddened” to hear about Carter’s death. In a statement from his office, the pontiff praised Carter’s “firm commitment” to the cause of “reconciliation and peace between peoples, the defense of human rights and the welfare of the poor and those in need.”

The pope praised Carter for his “deep Christian faith.”

“The Holy Father commends him to the infinite mercies of Almighty God and prays for the consolation of all who mourn his loss,” the Holy See’s statement said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that Carter will be remembered for “his solidarity with the vulnerable, his abiding grace, and his unrelenting faith in the common good and our common humanity.”

“His legacy as a peacemaker, human rights champion and humanitarian will endure,” Guterres said.

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