Sheikh Khalifa, UAE Rulers congratulate Donald Trump

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed also sent cables of congratulations to Donald Trump.

ABU DHABI // President Sheikh Khalifa congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election on Wednesday wishing him “success in his future tasks”.

He also commended the strategic ties between the two countries and emphasised the UAE’s desire to strengthen those relations, according to state news agency Wam.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, also offered their congratulations to Mr Trump.

World leaders were quick to push for a continuation of ties with the world’s top political and economic power, despite some previous misgivings about the tycoon.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, a key Arab ally to the US, expressed hope that US president-elect Donald Trump would bring stability to the Middle East.

The king wished Mr Trump success in “achieving security and stability in the Middle East and the wider world”, reported the official Saudi Press Agency.

Iraqi prime minister Haider Al Abadi said he hoped for enduring US support following Mr Trump’s win.

“We look forward to the continued support of the world and the United States in standing with Iraq in its confrontation with terrorism,” Mr Al Abadi said when congratulating Mr Trump.

In Europe, Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has been repeatedly flattered by Mr Trump, was among the first to send his congratulations and said Moscow wants to restore “fully fledged relations” with Washington after the strained ties under Barack Obama.

Mr Trump’s populist brothers-in-arms in Europe reacted with unabashed glee, with Britain’s Nigel Farage — who spearheaded the Brexit campaign — trumpeting “two great political revolutions”.

Marine Le Pen, head of France’s far-right anti-immigration National Front — who is running for president next year — congratulated Mr Trump and the “free American people”.

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, who leads a right-wing coalition with a strong anti-immigration stance, declared: “Democracy is still alive.”

Across the globe, viewers at election-watching events stared at giant screens tallying the returns as they digested the impact of the unpredictable property baron heading the world’s most powerful nation.

“I’m very afraid, will there be more wars? Will America attack Muslim countries again?” asked Indonesian activist Alijah Diete.

“It’s a nightmare, with a lot of uncertainty about what’s going to happen,” said 35-year-old architect Erick Sauri, who wore a T-shirt reading “Hillary Clinton for President” as he watched the results in Mexico.

Mr Trump’s win was particularly startling in Mexico, where his remarks calling Mexican immigrants criminals and “rapists” were a deep insult to national pride.

Britain’s left-leaning Guardian newspaper pulled no punches, saying the United States has elected “its most dangerous leader”.

“We have plenty to fear. The people of America have stepped into the abyss. The new president-elect is an unstable bigot, sexual predator and compulsive liar. He is capable of anything.”

* Wam, Agence France-Presse and Associated Press