When the world’s only superpower goes to the polls, the rest of the world pays attention.

Who wins the presidency on Tuesday has huge implications for global security, international trade and relations and climate change.

A victory for Donald Trump will result in a major recasting of the world order, with America retreating from its role as the world’s policeman.

A win for Hillary Clinton will see the White House adopted a more hawkish stance on Syria and the Ukraine.

If there is a common view among world leaders, it is a clear preference for the consistency of Clinton over the rash and unpredictable Trump.

This is how world’s main power bases view the presidential race:

RUSSIA

Vladimir Putin is thought to be the only world leader openly welcoming the prospect of Donald Trump in the White House.

The Russian President, who has praised the Republican as “colourful,” stands accused of using covert operations to interfere in the American election.

Trump, who has extensive business interests in Russia and links to Putin-supporting oligarchs, has repeatedly praised Putin on the campaign trail.

“When people call you brilliant, it’s always good, especially when the person heads up Russia,” he told MSNBC.

Clinton’s relationship with Putin is much frostier. The Russian leader has not yet forgiven her for accusing the Kremlin of rigging Russia’s 2011 Parliamentary elections.

In a recent TV debate the Democrat contender noted that 17 intelligence agencies had concluded espionage attack and cyber attacks” aimed at destabilising the US election had “come from the highest levels of the Kremlin.”

Trump refused to acknowledge the intelligence reports. He has promised to “re-set” relations with Moscow, with allies fearing he could drop sanctions against Russia imposed after the annexation of Crimea and give Putin a free run in Syria.

BRITAIN

Theresa May has already had one clash with Trump.

When he claimed there were “no-go areas” in London because of its Muslim population she said he “didn’t understand the UK” and was “just plain wrong.”

Britain shares the view of other nations that Clinton offers more continuity and will maintain the special relationship.

Donald Trump declares Britain and Europe unsafe after recent terror attacks

Mrs May will also share the concern of the security agencies at Trump’s refusal to accept their intelligence and his closeness to the Kremlin.

Dr Jacob Parakalis, Assistant Head, US and the Americas Programme at Chatham House, warns Trump will care little for the special relationship.

“He (Trump) doesn’t prioritise relations with traditional America allies. He’s not going to be constrained by history. He takes a transactional view of relationships.”

“Throughout different regions of the world – Asia, Europe, Latin America – his view will be, what’s the immediate financial turnaround from this engagement,” Dr Parakalis told the Mirror.

But Mrs May may have to take a pragmatic line on Trump, not least because he has promised Britain will be “front of the queue” for post- Brexit trade deal.

EUROPE

Few in Europe see any benefits to a Trump presidency.

French President François Hollande recently said Trump “makes you want to retch,” while the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called Trump a “hate preacher” for his views on Muslims.

Trump’s pledges to impose sanctions and tariffs on imports that threaten US jobs has alarmed Brussels. His presidency would mean the death of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

Europe is also fearful that Trump will undermine the joint stance on Russia over Ukraine and put at risk intelligence sharing.

NATO

The election of Trump has raised questions about the future of the Transatlantic treaty.

The Republican has repeatedly warned he will no longer underwrite the cost of NATO and force other members to pay their fair share.

“He (Trump) would face a lot of resistance from the Pentagon and Congress if he tried to make changes to the US relationship to NATO.

“But, fundamentally, the Pentagon will do what the President tells them to do. He could hollow it (NATO) out without completely pulling out of it,” said Dr Parakalis.

Former NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen has voiced fears that if America draws back from NATO it could destabilise world order and see Russia flex its muscles.

He said Trump’s statements were an invitation to “autocrats, terrorists and rogue states” to test international laws.

MIDDLE EAST

The peace process between Israel and Palestine, the situation in Syria and relations with Iran could all hinge on the result of the US election.

Trump has promised to scrap Barack Obama’s deal with Iran on its nuclear programme which has helped bring the country out of international isolation.

He has also promised to send 30,000 troops to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria - though it is not clear how this sits with his pledge to work with Putin.

The mogul’s anti-Muslim rhetoric has also upset, unsurprisingly, many Arab countries.

Israel has kept tight-lipped on the US election but the thinking in Tel Aviv is Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu would prefer a critical Clinton to an inconsistent and unpredictable Trump.

Many believe a Clinton presidency could be equally problematic for the region.

She may take a more hawkish line on Syria which could see the US back a no fly zone over Aleppo.

But she also carries a lot of baggage from her time as Secretary of State, not least the failure to bring security in Libya.

CHINA and INDIA

Under Barack Obama America switched its focus away from Europe to engaging with South East Asia.

Clinton is likely to continue this policy and has strong diplomatic links with India.

By contrast Trump has repeatedly accused China of stealing US jobs and cheating in trade deals.

In a recent interview in the Wall Street Journal the Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei called Trump an “irrational type” and said the US “wouldn’t be entitled to world leadership” if he imposed trade barriers.

There are also fears that if Trump is elected talks on climate change would stall.

China and America are the world’s two biggest polluters but Trump has shown no interest in environmental issues.

(Mirror)