Merkel reminds Trump of Geneva Convention after immigration curbs

Gabriel stepped down from the party leadership in a surprise move on Tuesday, also announcing that he would not run for chancellor against Angela Merkel in this year’s elections.

Mr. Trump and Angela Merkel held an “extensive phone conversation” over the weekend, the Associated Press reports, and according to the Chancellor’s spokesman, she took it upon herself to attack the president’s policies and “explain” elements of the post-war Refugee Convention to the president.

British Prime Minister Theresa May’s office says that a state visit to Britain by U.S. President Donald Trump later this year will go ahead, despite increasing calls for it to be canceled over his temporary ban on residents of seven majority-Muslim countries entering the U.S.

Yesterday, Mr Trump signed an order to strengthen the vetting of would-be immigrants or refugees and to keep “radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America”.

On Tuesday, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko said world powers should keep sanctions on Russian Federation, and rejected Trump’s proposal to consider reducing the penalties if Moscow proved a useful ally.

During his election campaign, Trump had threatened to “tear up” the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or try to renegotiate its terms if elected president.

Along with discussing the Geneva Convention, the German leader also discussed the “fundamental significance” of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation with the USA president and its intention to “further deepen the already excellent bilateral relations in the coming years”.

The Kremlin said Trump and Putin had agreed to establish “partner-like co-operation” when it came to global issues such as Ukraine, Iran’s nuclear program, tensions on the Korean peninsula and the Israeli-Arab conflict.

In the meantime, the Trump effect is causing concerns for Merkel beyond his criticism of her refugee stance. Meanwhile, the president is calling for a more level playing field with China, in addition to having pulled the US out of a proposed 12-nation Pacific Rim trade accord.

Mr Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom will go ahead despite widespread outrage over the travel ban he imposed on Muslims and refugees.

After meeting on Saturday, the foreign ministers of both nations, Jean-Marc Ayrault and Germany’s Sigmar Gabriel, said they hope to meet with the Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson.

A summary of the phone call which was released jointly by the two administrations, however, did not refer to any mentions of the ban.