ISLAMABAD: US President Joe Biden has arrived in Belfast on a four-day visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted Biden as he stepped off Air Force One at Belfast International Airport.
His visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a peace treaty that helped end Northern Ireland’s 30 years of violent conflict. The White House praised the “tremendous progress” made since the agreement was signed in 1998.
However, Biden’s visit is overshadowed by disarray of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government which imploded last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), one of Stormont’s largest parties, withdrew in protest of post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.
Biden arrived in Belfast city center around 22:20 BST on Tuesday after riding his presidential motorcade from the airport.
Strict security arrangements underway
Many city center streets have been closed as part of a massive security operation amid the US president’s visit. Prior to his arrival, Biden stated that he was looking forward to commemorating the anniversary in Belfast and “underscoring the United States’ commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity”.
His trip to Belfast is the first leg of a four-day Ireland visit, during which he will discuss his Irish ancestors and meet Irish relatives. His sister Valerie and son Hunter will also accompany him on the visit. Biden’s visit comes just two weeks after MI5 reported that the level of terrorism threat in Northern Ireland has surged due to increased activity by dissident Republicans.
Petrol bombs were thrown at a police vehicle during an illegal parade by dissident Republicans in Londonderry on Monday. Nonetheless, the violence was contained to a single location and ended quickly. Police discovered four suspected pipe bombs inside the grounds of Derry’s City Cemetery on Tuesday. They believe they will be used in an attack on officers following Monday’s parade.
Despite the elevated threat of terrorism, Biden was “more than comfortable” making the trip, according to a presidential spokesperson. Biden stayed in a Belfast hotel the night before his main event in Northern Ireland, a speech at the new Ulster University campus in Belfast on Wednesday.
In his speech, Biden is expected to emphasize on the US willingness to assist in preserving what he sees as the peace and prosperity gained since the Good Friday Agreement. The president is also expected to discuss how the US administration can help the economy of Northern Ireland.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced on Twitter that he would join President Biden in Belfast “for engagements on shared economic prosperity. Biden is also scheduled to meet with the leaders of Stormont’s five major political parties during his brief visit.
The US president’s visit, according to Michelle O’Neill, vice-president of Sinn Féin, the largest party at Stormont, will be a “special moment.” She said, “While we look back with pride at how far we’ve all come and all we’ve accomplished, we also look forward with hope, ambition, and opportunity for the next 25 years.”
Former Irish ambassador to the US, Daniel Mulhall, stated that while Biden would have preferred to address politicians at a functioning Stormont assembly, his speech would be “very carefully crafted to convey the message that essentially America is here to help.”
While in Belfast to meet with the president, Sunak will not meet with any of Northern Ireland’s political leaders. Nonetheless, a spokesperson said he had not given up on bringing the DUP back into power-sharing talks.
