The White House announced on Tuesday, 14 April, a video conference of G7 leaders on Thursday, 16 April, "to coordinate national responses to the coronavirus outbreak".
"Working together, the G7 is taking a whole-of-society approach to tackle the crisis across multiple areas, including health, finance, humanitarian assistance, and science and technology", said White House spokesman Judd Deere.
The leaders had already discussed COVID-19 on 16 March (see EUROPE 12447/4).
Criticism of US decision to suspend WHO funding
The meeting could be an opportunity for some leaders to express their disappointment or criticism of the U.S. administration's decision to suspend funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), as Donald Trump claimed that the UN agency had mismanaged the pandemic. The United States is the largest financial contributor to the WHO, accounting for 16% of the total funding.
"There is no reason justifying this move at a moment when their efforts are needed more than ever to help contain and mitigate the coronavirus pandemic. Only by joining forces can we overcome this crisis, that knows no borders", warned Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, also agreed that it was necessary to work closely together against the virus and that "one of the best investments is to strengthen the UN, above all the under-financed WHO… in the development and distribution of tests and vaccines". "Blaming others won’t help", he added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)