Merkel is to meet Johnson at the Chequers country house, the official country residence of British prime ministers north-west of London, on July 2.

“This will be a chance to discuss a range of issues, including deepening the UK-Germany relationship and the global response to the coronavirus pandemic,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.

The two leaders last met at the G7 summit held in Cornwall between June 11-13, where they also held a bilateral meeting, during which Merkel urged Johnson to observe the terms of the Brexit agreement on the status of the British province of Northern Ireland.

The European Union and Britain are currently at odds over the special regulations regarding trade with Northern Ireland that have been put in place in order to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.