Boris Johnson has defended Donald Trump’s presidency as a “moment of opportunity”, after a row broke out in Brussels over the Foreign Secretary’s failure to attend an EU meeting on the shock US election result.

Mr Johnson said there was much to be positive about for Britain and Europe as he arrived for a regular meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday.

But after snubbing an earlier meeting hastily convened to discuss the impact of Mr Trump’s victory as a “whinge-o-rama”, he was attacked by EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini.

Arriving in Brussels, Mr Johnson said on Monday: “I think there is a lot to be positive about and it is very important not to prejudge the President-elect or his administration.

“It’s only a few days since the election has taken place. I think we all need to wait and see what they come up with. But I think we should regard it as a moment for opportunity.

“Donald Trump is a dealmaker and I think that could be a good thing for Britain, but it could also be a good thing for Europe and that, I think, is what we need to focus on today.”

Ms Mogherini, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, claimed other nations were unsurprised by Mr Johnson’s absence at the Trump meeting.

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She said: “A couple of ministers were not coming for political reasons, one in particular, you know that well.

“But I can also share with you that some in Europe are surprised, not when that country is absent, but nowadays that it is still present around the table of the 28.

“So, I guess it is only normal for a country that has decided to leave the European Union not to be so interested in our discussions on the future of our relations with the US.”

Ms Mogherini described the EU’s Trump meeting as “very fruitful” and stressed that the bloc will continue to be partners with the US.

She said: “We have decided together to engage with the incoming administration even from these very first weeks of transition.

“Obviously we will continue to work day and night with the current administration but also preparing the ground for the change in administration from January, and I will be glad to not only visit Washington soon but also invite the future Secretary of State to one of our next Foreign Affairs Council.”

Boris Johnson's defining moments Show all 32 1 /32 Boris Johnson's defining moments Boris Johnson's defining moments 2016 Boris Johnson swings from a bus as Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers (left), Northern First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster and Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Jonathan Bell (second right) look on during a visit to Wrightbus Chassis plant in Antrim PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2015 Boris Johnson takes down 10-year-old Toki Sekiguchi during a game of Street Rugby with a group of Tokyo children Reuters Boris Johnson's defining moments 2015 Boris Johnson planting flowers at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2015 A commuter gesturing to Boris Johnson as he cycles across Vauxhall Bridge PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2014 Mayor of London Boris Johnson boxes with a trainer during his visit to Fight for Peace Academy in North Woolwich Boris Johnson's defining moments 2014 The Mayor of London Boris Johnson wears a traditional headdress during a visit to the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, a major new Hindu temple being built in Kingsbury in London Boris Johnson's defining moments 2014 Many Conservative Party members gagging to have Boris Johnson as their MP PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2014 Boris Johnson prepares to deliver a speech in Bloomberg's European headquarters on Britain's involvement in the EU. Mr Johnson also announced his intention to become an MP again at the 2015 general election, whilst serving out the remainder of his term as mayor. Getty Images Boris Johnson's defining moments 2014 The Mayor of London Boris Johnson during a speech and Q&A session at Bloomberg, London, where he has said that 'in all probability' he will seek to stand for Parliament in next year's general election. PA Wire Boris Johnson's defining moments 2014 London mayor Boris Johnson helps shear a sheep held by New Zealand's most successful competition sheep shearer, David Fagan (L) on a visit to Lister Shearing Equipment in Stonehouse Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Mayor of London Boris Johnson takes a helicopter ride over Hong Kong as part of week long visit to China to promote trade between the far east and London PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Boris Johnson explains why he's such a hit with female voters PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Boris Johnson celebrates after a wildly successful interview with Eddie Mair PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Mayor of London Boris Johnson sits in the operator's cab of a crane on the quay at DP World London Gateway Port in Stanford-le-Hope Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Boris Johnson shoots a basketball Getty Images Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 The Mayor of London make a strong pose in what appears to be a particularly bad tourism advert for Asia PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Boris Johnson meets saltwater crocodile George, which was named after the royal baby EPA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Perhaps the only person ever who has ridden on the Emirates Air Line Getty Images Boris Johnson's defining moments 2012 Boris Johnson's encounter with a zip wire only served to prove how adept the London Mayor is at defying political gravity in 2012 Getty Images Boris Johnson's defining moments 2012 Boris Johnson playing tennis Getty Images Boris Johnson's defining moments 2012 Aside from his mayoral duties, London Mayor, Boris Johnson, is looking displeased at his seven appearances Rex Features Boris Johnson's defining moments 2012 Boris goes for a bounce in one of favourite places... (the Olympic village obviousy) Reuters Boris Johnson's defining moments 2011 London Mayor Boris Johnson on the streets of Clapham REUTERS Boris Johnson's defining moments 2011 Like a raging bull, Boris Johnson challenges a statue to a duel AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade Boris Johnson's defining moments 2010 Boris Johnson embraces a member of the public in Ealing, west London, who seems to have taken a shine to him FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2009 Frothy top? Boris Johnson visits Starbucks in Mayfair PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2009 Johnson tries on one of his favourite pink and sparkly hats Getty Images Boris Johnson's defining moments 2008 Johnson smiles smugly as he thinks of his fine mop of hair, worthy of a L'Oreal advert PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2008 Boris Johnson tries his hand at policing the capital - primarily by wearing a new hat PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2008 The hippie world welcomes a new member to the fold in Boris Johnson Reuters Boris Johnson's defining moments 2004 Boris Johnson jogs on the streets of London PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 1980's Boris as a young'un. He was fired from his first job as a trainee reporter at The Times for making up a quote about the Plantagenet King Edward the II and his gay lover BBC

Mr Johnson was the first foreign politician to receive a phone call from US Vice President-elect Mike Pence on Friday after the election result.

Less than 24 hours earlier, he had spoken in the Serbian capital, Belgarde, telling EU leaders that they needed to get over the shock of Mr Trump’s win and look to the future.

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He said: “I would respectfully say to my beloved European friends and colleagues that it’s time that we snapped out of the general doom and gloom about the result of this election and collective ‘whinge-o-rama’ that seems to be going on in some places.”

The full EU foreign affairs council started Monday, while Theresa May faced pressure from within her cabinet to utilise Ukip’s Nigel Farage to build connections with the Trump team.