What have world leaders said about Brexit?

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte has caused a storm by saying Britain is “on the wane” and a shadow of its former self since the EU referendum.

The comments have upset some as the Netherlands has traditionally been one of the UK’s closest allies in the European Union.

But Mr Rutte’s reaction isn’t that unusual among other global figures. Here’s how some other nation’s leaders have reacted.

France

In January Emmanuel Macron said the EU referendum had been “manipulated from outside by a lot of what we call fake news”.

He told a meeting of mayors that the Leave campaign had “lied to the people and what [the public] have chosen is not possible”.

“Good luck to the representatives of the nation who have to implement a thing which doesn’t exist, and explain to the people: ‘you have voted on a thing, we lied to you’. That’s what they have to go through.”

In September last year he also branded the leaders of the Brexit campaign “liars”.

Spain

In November Pedro Sanchez said if he were Theresa May, he would call another EU referendum.

“I’d like to see the British government calling a second referendum. I don’t mean now, but in the future, so that it can come back to the EU. In another way, but back into the EU.”

He said the UK was a “marvellous country” but that it had embarked on path of “self-absorption which isn’t going to be good either for the UK or for Europe”.

Japan

Prime minister Shinzo Abe has told Britain “the world is watching” Brexit – amid announcements from Japanese businesses like Sony and Panasonic that they are reducing their presence in the UK so they can keep access to the single market.

“Japan wants the effect on Japanese companies, and on the economy, to be kept to a minimum,” Mr Abe said earlier this month. “We truly hope a no-deal Brexit will be avoided. In fact this is the wish of the whole world.”

Hungary

Hungary hasn’t exactly welcomed Brexit – it is commited to the EU and many Hungarian citizens make use of their free movement to come to the UK.

But its populist government has asked for the UK to be treated leniently compared to the tone struck by other nations.

“I’m very positive, I don’t like to punish the Brits just because they have decided to leave,” Viktor Orban said in September.

“It’s a great nation, so we should have a fair approach to have a good deal with them on how to continue.”

The United States

Donald Trump has been an exception – welcoming Brexit with open arms. He said he would do a “huge” trade deal with the UK and claimed credit for the result, claiming he was known as “Mr Brexit” in the UK.

That tone has somewhat changed in recent months, however. Mr Trump has said the US might not be able to sign a trade deal with the UK under its planned deal with Brussels.

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