Trump, "Hope for G7 Summit After Election... Putin Must Be Invited" (Update)

Reconfirmation of Russia's Initial Entry Despite Opposition from Member States

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to postpone the Group of Seven (G7) summit until after the November presidential election. He particularly emphasized that he would definitely invite President Vladimir Putin, which is expected to spark controversy.

On the 10th (local time), during a briefing on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the White House, President Trump said, "The G7 summit has been postponed," adding, "I want to hold it after the November election."

The U.S. had planned to hold this year's G7 summit in June at the Camp David presidential retreat but postponed it once to September due to COVID-19. President Trump has expressed his intention to hold an offline summit despite the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

President Trump introduced that although official invitations have not yet been sent, he is in talks with member countries.

When asked whether he would invite Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump emphasized, "Because he is an important factor, I will definitely invite him to the meeting."

Using the authority of the chairmanship of this year's G7 summit, he said he wants to invite South Korea, Australia, Russia, and India to expand the G7 framework, which had caused a significant stir.

Contrary to President Trump's position, member countries that excluded Russia from the G8 due to the Crimea Peninsula incident are actively opposing inviting Russia to the G7 summit.