World leaders including Sir Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron have begun congratulating Donald Trump on his expected election victory.
Trump, who is set to become only the second non-consecutive president in American history to win a second term, was on the cusp of the White House on Wednesday morning, with 267 of the necessary 270 electoral college votes.
Among the major world leaders to congratulate him was British prime minister Sir Keir, who labelled the victory “historic”.
“Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory,” he said.
“I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise."
French president Emmanuel Macron said he was “ready to work together just as we knew how to do during four years”.
“With your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity,” he said.
Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, who had welcomed Donald Trump as an ally during his previous four-year term, labelled it “history’s greatest comeback”.
He told the Republican: “Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.
“This is a huge victory! In true friendship.”
The sentiment was echoed by Hungary’s Viktor Orban, a right-wing populist cited by Trump as an inspiration, who called it “the biggest comeback” and “a much needed victory for the world”.
Austria’s centre-right leader, Karl Nehammer, also sent his congratulations, as did Matteo Salvini, Italy’s far-right deputy prime minister.
Reaction also came from senior politicians close to the Kremlin in Russia, one of whom said a Trump victory would be bad news for Ukraine.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said: “Trump has one useful quality for us: as a businessman to the core, he mortally dislikes spending money on various hangers–on and stupid hanger-on allies, on bad charity projects and on voracious international organisations.
He claimed that Ukraine would not be an issue Trump was likely to not want to spend too much money on, which would be a boost for Vladimir Putin, who launched his unprovoked invasion in February 2021.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Trump on his expected victory, voicing hopes for "strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."
"Congratulations to Donald Trump on his impressive election victory!" Zelensky said on X.
The ramifications of a second Trump term will be closely watched across the world, particularly in Europe, where there is fear that the Republican could pull or lessen support for the Nato military alliance.
But Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte attempted to strike a positive tone as he also sent congratulations to Trump, writing on social media: “His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through Nato".
