Barack Obama has said he and Donald Trump "could not be more different" - adding: "That's how democracy has to work."

Delivering a speech in Athens during his final foreign tour as President of the United States of America, before he vacates The White House to make way for his successor Mr Trump, he said "our future will be okay".

However, he said that was only possible as long as people retain faith in democracy and are unwavering in their democratic principles.

Mr Obama spoke of the importance of free elections, "even if your candidate doesn't always win", and reiterated his pledge to work with Mr Trump's team in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition of power.

Image: Mr Obama and Mr Trump at the White House last Thursday

In what is likely to be his final major address abroad, he warned fellow world leaders on Wednesday: "People have to know that they're being heard."


He said communities were increasingly feeling disconnected from their governments and other institutions.

Mr Obama said globalisation has brought many economic benefits to the world.

But in a reference to the anger that saw the UK vote to leave the European Union and Mr Trump's shock victory last week, he warned it is feeding a rising "tribalism" and "nationalism" that is breeding a "suspicion" of institutions.

Image: Mr Obama at the Acropolis in Athens

"The same forces of globalisation and technology and integration that have delivered so much progress, have created so much wealth, have also revealed deep fault lines," he said.

"If you had to choose blindly what moment you'd want to be born, you'd choose now, because the world has never collectively been wealthier, better educated, healthier, less violent - that's hard to imagine given what we see in the news - but it's true."

However, coupled with advances in technology, part of the effect of globalisation has been an increase in feelings of inequality, with smaller workforces being used to produce goods and jobs and manufacturing moving abroad, he said.

The sight of "the rich and the powerful" seemingly living by a different set of rules - "avoiding taxes, manipulating loopholes" - "feeds a profound sense of injustice and a feeling that our economies are increasingly unfair", he warned.

"This inequality now constitutes one of the greatest challenges to our economies and to our democracies," he said.

Image: Riot police clash with protesters in Athens during Mr Obama's visit

"This impulse to pull back from a globalised world is understandable."

He added: "The current path of globalisation demands a course correction.

"In the years and decades ahead, our countries have to make sure that the benefits of an integrated global economy are more broadly shared by more people and that the negative impacts are squarely addressed."

Earlier, Mr Obama was given a private tour of Greece's most famous ancient monument, the Acropolis.

While he has broadly been welcomed in the country, there have been violent protests against "American imperialism".

Berlin is the next stop on his European farewell tour, where he will meet his "Quint" counterparts - German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Italian PM Matteo Renzi.