Foreign diplomats alarmed by Donald Trump’s inflammatory statements

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets reporters following a presidential debate on March 3, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (AFP photo)

Foreign diplomats have complained to US government officials about the inflammatory and insulting public statements made by leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Officials from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America have expressed alarm in recent private conversations about Trump’s xenophobic comments, according to senior US officials.

The foreign officials have been particularly disturbed by the anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim themes that the billionaire real estate mogul has pushed, said three US officials, who all declined to be identified.

"As the (Trump) rhetoric has continued, and in some cases amped up, so, too, have concerns by certain leaders around the world," one of the officials told Reuters.

The three US officials declined to reveal a full list of countries whose diplomats have complained, but said they included at least Mexico, South Korea, Japan and India.

US officials said it was highly unusual for foreign diplomats to express concern about candidates in the middle of a presidential campaign.

Senior leaders in several countries, including Britain, Canada, France and Mexico, have previously made public comments criticizing Trump's positions.

In January, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "What Donald Trump says is, in my view, not only wrong, but actually it makes the work we need to do to confront and defeat the extremists more difficult."

German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel described him as a threat to global peace and prosperity in an interview published on Sunday.

Trump, who has never held elected office, is leading the race despite the fact that his campaign has been marked by controversial statements, including with disparaging remarks about Mexican immigrants and Muslims.

On Tuesday, General Philip Breedlove, the top US military commander in Europe, said that the American presidential campaign was stirring concerns among America's allies.

Several US foreign policy experts said foreign diplomats have complained to them as well.

"All foreign diplomats I’ve talked to are amazed at the Trump phenomenon and worried about it, especially in the Middle East and Europe,” said Elliott Abrams, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations think tank who handled Middle East affairs at the National Security Council from 2001 to 2009 under then-President George W. Bush.


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