World leaders react to increasing probability of Trump presidency

World leaders have begun to react Donald Trump's victory in the 2016 US Presidential Election.

France

France's far-right National Front party leader Marine Le Pen congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday as he looked set for a possible shock victory in the US presidential election.

"Congratulations to the new president of the United States Donald Trump and to the free American people!" she said on Twitter.

Opinion polls show Le Pen likely to win the first round of French presidential elections next year but lose in the second round to whoever should be her opponent.

Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen attends a cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Jun 8, 2016. Reuters.

Germany

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said on German television on Wednesday that Republican Donald Trump's move toward an unexpected victory in the US presidential election was a "huge shock".

She told broadcaster ARD: "I think Trump knows that this was not a vote for him but rather against Washington, against the establishment."

South Korea

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said on Wednesday that he believed Donald Trump would maintain the current US policy of pressuring North Korea over its nuclear and missile tests, if he wins the presidential election.

A man takes a selfie with a cut-out of Republican US presidential nominee Donald Trump during a US Election Watch event hosted by the US Embassy at a hotel in Seoul, South Korea, Nov 9, 2016. Reuters.

"Trump has indicated that the greatest problem facing the world is the nuclear threat and members of his national security team hold the position that favour's applying strong pressure against the North," Yun said.

He made the comments in a meeting with members of parliament scheduled to discuss the results of the US presidential election. The North conducted its fourth and fifth nuclear tests in January and September, drawing widespread international condemnation.

Russian member of parliament and former deputy head of the presidential administration Vyacheslav Volodin (L) embraces his colleague Artur Chilingarov during the opening session of the newly-elected State Duma, the lower house of parliament, in Moscow, Russia, Oct 5,... Reuters

Russia

The speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament said on Wednesday Moscow hoped for more constructive dialogue with the United States now that a new president had been elected, the TASS news agency reported.

Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the State Duma and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, said parliament would welcome any steps in these directions.

European Parliament President Martin Schulz attends a debate on the last European Summit at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Oct 26, 2016. Reuters.

European Union

European Parliament President Martin Schulz on Wednesday said he hoped for a "rational cooperation" with Donald Trump as the next US president after a bitter political campaign.

"It will not be easy because during the election campaign we heard some elements of protectionism, also some worrying words about women, about minorities," said Schulz, a German Social Democrat.

"But my experience is also that election campaigns are different from the real politics during a term of the president so I hope that we will get back to a rational cooperation."

The election of Donald Trump as the United States' 45th president will make work "harder" for the European Union, he added.

"It will be hard, harder than with previous administrations but he is the freely elected president," Schulz said on Europe 1 radio.

"We must respect the future president of the United States (...) I hope we will find a slot to cooperate," he said.

Philippines

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte offered "warm congratulations" to US president-elect Donald Trump and looks forward to working with him to enhance relations, a Philippine minister said on Wednesday.

Duterte, who has expressed outrage almost daily with the Obama administration and threatened repeatedly to end one of Washington's most important Asian alliances, hailed the success of US democratic system and the American way of life, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement.

Duterte "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," he said.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attends a news conference with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades (unseen) at the El-Thadiya presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, October 11, 2016. Picture taken Oct 11, 2016. Reuters

Egypt

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday on his victory in the US presidential election and said he hoped his election would unleash a new era of closer ties with Washington.

"The Egyptian Arab Republic is looking forward to the period of Donald Trump's presidency to imbue new spirit into the path of Egyptian-American ties with more cooperation and coordination in the interests of both the Egyptian and American people," he said in a statement.

Turkey

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election on Wednesday and said Ankara would strengthen its "trust-based relations and cooperation" with the United States.

He made the comments on his Twitter account.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak talks to the media beside Indonesia's President Joko Widodo after a bilateral meeting at Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug 1, 2016. Reuters

Malaysia

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak congratulated US president-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday, saying the Republican victor had appealed to Americans who wanted to see the United States less embroiled in intervention abroad.

"His appeal to Americans who have been left behind – those who want to see their government more focused on their interests and welfare, and less embroiled in foreign interventions that proved to be against US interests – have won Mr Trump the White House," Najib said in a statement.

Najib said he looked forward to continuing a partnership with the United States under Trump's presidency.