Trump: May, Juncker, Putin all urge closer relations

After shocking pollsters and investors by winning the race to become the 45th US president, Donald Trump received a range of congratulatory messages from world leaders, with a strong theme of building bridges and improving .

Prime Minister Theresa May emphasised the “enduring and special relationship” between Britain and the US and highlighted that they “will remain close partners on trade, security and defence”.

The UK has been attempting to build bridges after a parliamentary debate in January saw MPs debate whether Trump should be allowed to enter the country, with the then-presidential outsider being called a “wazzock”, a “buffoon” and “misogynistic”.

During his campaign, Trump said if Russia attacked a Nato member, he would consider whether the country had met its defence commitment before coming to its aid.

His victory, which will be capped by official inauguration on 20 January 2017, was also thought likely to reinforce the trend toward European politicians expressing right-wing and nationalistic views.

Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, respectively presidents of the European Council and European Commission, sent a joint letter inviting Trump to an EU-US Summit.

The pair wrote: “We should consolidate bridges we have been building across the Atlantic. Europeans trust that America, whose democratic ideals have been a beacon of hope around the globe, will continue to invest in its partnerships with friends and allies, to help make our citizens and the people of the world more secure and more prosperous.”

At a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday, Nato’s chief Jens Stoltenberg also said he would invite Trump to Nato's summit next year, adding that "US leadership is as important as ever and a strong Nato is good for the United States".

Martin Schulz, the European Parliament's president, said that working with Trump will be harder for the EU, telling Europe 1 radio: "It will be hard, harder than with previous administrations, but he is the freely elected president. We must respect the future president of the United States ... I hope we will find a slot to co-operate."

Francois Hollande, the French president, said France will remain an ally but the result "now opens a period of uncertainty".

French far right leader Marine LePen was one of the first public figures to congratulate Trump and the “free” American people, while the head of Germany’s right wing party Alternative für Deutschland, Frauke Petry, said the result was “encouraging”.

Russian president Vladimir Putin, to whom Trump often directed praise during the campaign, sent the American a telegram wishing him "success in the vital responsibilities of head of state" and that he hopes to improve US-Russia relations to "solve international issues and search for effective answers to global security challenges.

"Building a constructive dialogue between Moscow and Washington based on principles of equality, mutual respect, and a real accounting of each other's positions is in the interest of the peoples of our countries and the whole global community."

Russia was accused of interfering in the election as it allegedly hacked into the Democratic National Committee’s computer networks, which Trump resolutely discounted.

During the campaign Trump referred to himself as Mr Brexit, and received some campaign assistance from Nigel Farage, former Ukip leader and leading Brexiteer.

He said on Twitter on Wednesday that he would "hand over the mantle".