United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has cancelled his planned participation at this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, after falling ill, a UN spokesperson said on Tuesday.
UN spokesman Rolando Gomez told reporters in Geneva that Guterres, who was scheduled to speak on Wednesday, had developed a “bad cold” and would no longer take part in the annual summit, adding that he would be leaving Switzerland.
The announcement comes as United States President Donald Trump is expected to attend the high-level gathering, where he is due to meet global business leaders and deliver a special address on Wednesday, according to a Reuters report.
Sources familiar with the plans told Reuters that senior executives, including chief executives from the financial services, cryptocurrency and consulting sectors, had been invited to a reception following Trump’s address. While details of the agenda remain unclear, one source said invitations were extended to global CEOs, not only those from the United States, and that the invitations originated from the White House.
Anthony Scaramucci, an investor who briefly served as Trump’s communications director during his first term, confirmed that the meeting was scheduled to take place.
Trump is expected to arrive at the Swiss mountain resort on Wednesday, accompanied by several senior US officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
