US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cancels Germany visit after sinking Arctic accord over climate change differences

A spokeswoman for the US State Department cited ‘pressing issues’ as the reason for the cancellation, without giving further details

Earlier on his European tour, Pompeo had attended an Arctic Council meeting where he refused to sign an agreement because of climate change wording

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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Arctic Council summit in Finland on May 7. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:30pm, 7 May 2019Updated: 7:30pm, 7 May 2019

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo abruptly cancelled a visit to Germany on Tuesday hours before he was supposed to arrive in Berlin, with his spokeswoman citing “pressing issues”.

“We look forward to rescheduling this important set of meetings. The secretary looks forward to being in Berlin soon,” said State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus, without giving any further details or explanation.

Pompeo had been expected to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photo: Bloomberg

Pompeo had been expected to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

It was not immediately clear whether he would still travel to Britain on Wednesday, when he was to meet Prime Minister Theresa May, or on Thursday to Greenland, where he was to complete his European tour.

Pompeo started the trip attending a meeting of ministers of the Arctic Council in the northern Finnish city of Rovaniemi, where he refused to sign an agreement on challenges in the region because of discrepancies over climate change wording, according to diplomats.