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World leaders' reaction to Trump's election win

Author
Newstalk ZB staff, AAP,
Publish Date
Thu, 10 Nov 2016, 5:58AM
UK Prime Minister Theresa May (Getty Images).

World leaders' reaction to Trump's election win

Author
Newstalk ZB staff, AAP,
Publish Date
Thu, 10 Nov 2016, 5:58AM

UPDATED 7.11am Many of the world's leaders have commented on what they think of Donald Trump's win.

LISTEN ABOVE: BBC Mexico correspondent Katy Watson and UK correspondent Peter Anderson spoke to Rachel Smalley about how Mexico and the UK are reacting

The majority of them have expressed congratulations and say they look forward to continuing a relationship with the US under Trump's presidency. 

The Mexican peso took a big hit following the falling as much as 13 per cent against the US dollar - the biggest drop in nearly 20 years - but has recovered somewhat.

BBC Mexico correspondent Katy Watson told Rachel Smalley the country's Finance Minister and the Mexican Central Bank have held a special news conference.

"Just to reassure markets that Mexico is economically, financially stable to weather the storm."

Ms Watson said Mexicans had been hoping Mr Trump was unelectable.

Mr Trump talked about building a wall between Mexico and the US during his campaign.

However, Ms Watson said that's the Mexicans are most concerned about the fact Mr Trump wants to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, which includes the US, Canada and Mexico.

"$25 billion a year gets sent back from the US to Mexico and without that, it's Mexico's biggest foreign earner, more than oil, so that is a big concern."

Mexico's President Pena Nieto was heavily criticised for receiving Mr Trump in Mexico during the campaign, after the Republican candidate called Mexican immigrants rapists and vowed to build a wall between the two countries.

"Mexico and the United States are friends, partners and allies and we should keep collaborating for the competitiveness and development of North America," Pena Nieto said on his Twitter account.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May said "Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

"We are, and will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defence.

"I look forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump, building on these ties to ensure the security and prosperity of our nations in the years ahead."

UK correspondent Peter Anderson told Rachel Smalley ex-UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has said it's a good result for the UK, which will lead to better trade deals than there would've been under Hillary Clinton.

"He has said that under the change with Trump we will be at the front of the queue, so certainly not shock and horror from all. Some are saying that this could be an opportunity.

"And Farage has said that this is a good result for the UK. He has said that for trade deals in a post-EU Britain working with Trump will be better for the country than it would have been under Clinton."

Russian president Vladimir Putin was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Donald Trump.

He said there's a strained relationship between the two countries now.

"As I have repeatedly said, this is not our fault that US Russia relations are in this state. Russia is ready and wants to restore the full-fledged relations with the United States."

Though President Putin expressed confidence that building a constructive dialogue between Moscow and Washington meets the interests of both the Russian and American people and the world.

"We have heard his electoral slogans when he was still a candidate. He spoke about resuming and restoring relations with Russia. We understand the way to that will be difficult, taking into account the current state of degradation of relations."

UNITED NATIONS
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "In the aftermath of a hard-fought and often divisive campaign, it is worth recalling and reaffirming that the unity in diversity of the United States is one of the country's greatest strengths. I encourage all Americans to stay true to that spirit.

"People everywhere look to the United States to use its remarkable power to help lift humanity up and to work for the common good."

US
Former US president George HW Bush tweeted: "Barbara and I congratulate Donald Trump, wish him well as he guides America forward as our next President. His family is in our prayers."

CANADA
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has congratulated Mr Trump on winning the US presidency and stressed the close friendship and ties between the two nations.

Trudeau said in a statement on Wednesday he looks forward to working very closely with Trump and his administration on trade, investment, international peace and security.

GERMANY
"The result is not to be underestimated. The result is different from what most people in Germany desired. But of course we have to accept it," Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.

"In the course of the election campaign Donald Trump has found critical words about Europe and Germany. We must adjust to the fact that American foreign policy will get less predictable in the near future."

CHINA
"We hope for co-operation with the new administration to ensure healthy and stable development of the US-Chinese relations for the good of both states," said the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang.

JAPAN
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he "looks forward to co-operating closely with the next president" in the United States.

He looks forward to "further strengthening the Japan-US relations and the two countries taking a leading role to ensure peace and prosperity in the Asia- Pacific region."

TURKEY
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan: "I hope that this choice of the American people will lead to beneficial steps being taken for the world concerning basic rights and freedoms, democracy and developments in our region."

PHILIPPINES
"President [Rodrigo] Duterte wishes President-elect Trump success in the next four years as Chief Executive and commander-in chief of the US military, and looks forward to working with the incoming administration for enhanced Philippines-US relations anchored on mutual respect, mutual benefit and shared commitment to democratic ideals and the rule of law," the Office of Communications Secretary said in a statement.

NORWAY
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg says Oslo aims to continue to work for good relations with the United States that is key to her country's security and economy.

DENMARK
Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen says "now that the dust has settled, I hope that the incoming administration will continue the open and constructive co-operation that has been the hallmark of the US in recent years."

INDONESIA
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo says the world's most populous Muslim nation will work with Donald Trump's administration.

He says "we will keep good relations, especially in trade and investment as we know the US is one of Indonesia's major investors. I think there will be no change."

IRAN
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani: "The results of the US election have no effect on the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"Iran's policy for constructive engagement with the world and the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions have made our economic relations with all countries expanding and irreversible."

SWEDEN
Sweden had prepared for different outcomes in the US presidential elections, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven says.

"This is an election outcome that many people feel concerned about but that we have prepared for.

"Sweden has a long tradition of co-operation with US governments, regardless of party political affiliations" and aims to work with the incoming administration "to safeguard Swedish and European interests and to promote global security and stability."

FRANCE
President Francois Hollande warned the result would open up a period of uncertainty.

"I congratulate him as is natural between two democratic heads of state," said Hollande.

"This American election opens a period of uncertainty."

ISRAEL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump a "true friend of the State of Israel."

Netanyahu believes the two leaders "will continue to strengthen the unique alliance between our two countries and bring it to ever greater heights."

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