According to Business Insider and Politico, Germany has turned down an invitation from Trump to the G7 meeting amid concerns about COVID-19.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has turned down President Donald Trump’s invitation to the G7 Summit next month, Politico reported.
“The federal chancellor thanks President Trump for his invitation to the G7 summit at the end of June in Washington. As of today, considering the overall pandemic situation, she cannot agree to her personal participation, to a journey to Washington,” the report quoted German government spokesman Steffen Seibert as saying.
According to Reuters, the White House said that Trump believes there would be “no greater example of reopening” than holding a G7 summit in the US at the end of June.
Trump had initially canceled the meeting which would have been held on June 10 through June 12 back in March, as the coronavirus outbreak in the US grew.
Last week, he announced that he is considering hosting it again at Camp David, Business Insider previously reported.
In a tweet, he said: “I am considering rescheduling the G-7, on the same or similar date, in Washington, D.C., at the legendary Camp David. The other members are also beginning their COMEBACK. It would be a great sign to all – normalization!”
A senior US official, who declined to be named told Politico that Trump and Merkel had “heated disagreements on topics including NATO, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, and relations with China,” during a phone call this week.
Merkel said she believes June is still too soon to reopen and hold large gatherings since the virus is still circulating, according to Politico.
Trump was reportedly “furious over Merkel’s reluctance to attend the summit,” Politico reported. (source)
Now it is true that COVID-19 is a real threat and people should pay attention to it. This position has not changed.
However, as I have noted, COVID-19 has been used as an excuse to do many things, hence why I have referred to it as a “gift” that “keeps on giving” since it can be used to advocate any number of social ideas and positions.
We know for a fact that Germany wants to rise again. She has a long history of this.
We also know that Germany wants to break away from US influence and exert herself in the European continent and internationally.
We know that Germany does not like the US, and that her dislike of the US only continues to increase with the more power she gains.
Ask yourself, is this turning down of the meeting really about COVID-19, or is this an intentional snub to the US using COVID-19 as an excuse to express German political desires?
The fact is that we do not know the answer definitively. However, the timing is very interesting in history, and is something to watch for the future.