Merkel provides firm 'no' for Trump's in-person G7 summit
30 May, 2020
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will not attend an in-person summit of G7 leaders that US president Donald Trump has suggested he'll host despite concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, the Politico website quoted her spokesman as saying Friday.
Leaders from the Band of Seven, which the USA heads this year, have been scheduled to meet by videoconference in late June after COVID-19 scuttled plans to assemble in-person at Camp David, the united states presidential retreat in the state of Maryland.
Trump last week, however, indicated that he could hold the huge gathering in the end, "primarily at the White House" but also potentially elements of it at Camp David.
Merkel, a scientist by training, has declined.
"As of today, taking into consideration the overall pandemic situation, she cannot consent to her personal participation, to a journey to Washington," German government spokesman Steffen Seibert told Politico.
"The federal chancellor thanks President Trump for his invitation to the G7 summit," he said.
The 65-year-old chancellor is the oldest G7 leader after Trump, who is 73. Japan's Shinzo Abe, also 65, is almost a year younger than Merkel. Their age puts them at higher threat of contracting the coronavirus.
The White House has said it really is putting the huge diplomatic gathering back on the agenda as a "show of strength" when world economies are slowly but surely reemerging from shutdowns.
Merkel may be the first to give a company no, while other world leaders have expressed vaguely positive responses.
Earlier Friday, the White House said Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had spoken and "agreed on the value of convening the G7 personally soon."
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who hosted the 2018 summit, has said any in-person gathering would need to prioritize safety, while a French presidential official said that Emmanuel Macron was "ready to head to Camp David if medical conditions allow."
European Council head Charles Michel, meanwhile, said through a spokesman that he'd attend "if health issues allow."
G7 countries -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- take turns organizing the total annual gathering. In 2019 it was France.
The United States may be the worst-hit country for COVID-19 infections, having logged more than 1,745,600 cases and 102,798 deaths.
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