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| Joe Biden in Belfast to mark 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement | Joe Biden in Belfast to mark 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Watch: Biden lands in Belfast | Watch: Biden lands in Belfast |
| Watch: Biden lands in Belfast | Watch: Biden lands in Belfast |
| US President Joe Biden has landed in Belfast at the start of an historic four-day visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic. | US President Joe Biden has landed in Belfast at the start of an historic four-day visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic. |
| Mr Biden was greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he stepped off Air Force One at Belfast International Airport. | Mr Biden was greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he stepped off Air Force One at Belfast International Airport. |
| His visit marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement - a peace deal which helped end 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland. | His visit marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement - a peace deal which helped end 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland. |
| The White House hailed the "tremendous progress" since it was signed in 1998. | The White House hailed the "tremendous progress" since it was signed in 1998. |
| But Mr Biden's trip is overshadowed by the fact that Northern Ireland's power-sharing government is not functioning. | But Mr Biden's trip is overshadowed by the fact that Northern Ireland's power-sharing government is not functioning. |
| It collapsed last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - one of the biggest parties at Stormont - pulled out as part of a protest against post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland. | It collapsed last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - one of the biggest parties at Stormont - pulled out as part of a protest against post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland. |
| Mr Biden arrived in Belfast city centre at about 22:20 BST after making the journey from the airport in his presidential motorcade. | Mr Biden arrived in Belfast city centre at about 22:20 BST after making the journey from the airport in his presidential motorcade. |
| A huge security operation has been in place for most of Tuesday, with many city centre streets closed ahead of the visit. | A huge security operation has been in place for most of Tuesday, with many city centre streets closed ahead of the visit. |
| Ahead of his arrival, Mr Biden said he was looking forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast and "underscoring the US commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity". | Ahead of his arrival, Mr Biden said he was looking forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast and "underscoring the US commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity". |
| His trip to Belfast will be the first leg of a four-day stay in Ireland, during which he will also discuss his Irish roots and meet Irish relatives. His sister Valerie and his son Hunter are also accompanying the US president on the visit. | |
| Read more about Biden's visit | Read more about Biden's visit |
| Biden's blink and you'll miss it visit to NI | Biden's blink and you'll miss it visit to NI |
| Is this a missed opportunity for Stormont? | Is this a missed opportunity for Stormont? |
| Why Ireland is so important to Joe Biden | Why Ireland is so important to Joe Biden |
| Mr Biden's trip comes two weeks after MI5 said the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland had increased due to a rise in activity by dissident republicans. | Mr Biden's trip comes two weeks after MI5 said the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland had increased due to a rise in activity by dissident republicans. |
| During an illegal parade by dissident republicans in Londonderry on Monday petrol bombs were thrown at a police vehicle but the violence was confined to one area and ended a short time later. | During an illegal parade by dissident republicans in Londonderry on Monday petrol bombs were thrown at a police vehicle but the violence was confined to one area and ended a short time later. |
| On Tuesday, police found four suspected pipe bombs inside the grounds of the City Cemetery in Derry. They believe they were to be used in a planned attack on officers after Monday's parade. | On Tuesday, police found four suspected pipe bombs inside the grounds of the City Cemetery in Derry. They believe they were to be used in a planned attack on officers after Monday's parade. |
| The president's spokesman said Mr Biden was "more than comfortable making this trip" in spite of the terrorism threat. | The president's spokesman said Mr Biden was "more than comfortable making this trip" in spite of the terrorism threat. |
| Mr Biden was expected to stay overnight at a Belfast hotel ahead of the main event of his visit to Northern Ireland, a speech at the new Ulster University campus in Belfast on Wednesday. | Mr Biden was expected to stay overnight at a Belfast hotel ahead of the main event of his visit to Northern Ireland, a speech at the new Ulster University campus in Belfast on Wednesday. |
| In that speech he is expected to emphasise the willingness of the US to help to preserve what he sees as the peace and prosperity gained since the Good Friday Agreement. | In that speech he is expected to emphasise the willingness of the US to help to preserve what he sees as the peace and prosperity gained since the Good Friday Agreement. |
| The president is also expected to talk about how the US administration can support Northern Ireland's economy. | The president is also expected to talk about how the US administration can support Northern Ireland's economy. |
| US President Joe Biden is greeted by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Belfast International Airport on Tuesday night | US President Joe Biden is greeted by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Belfast International Airport on Tuesday night |
| Mr Biden is also set to meet the leaders of Stormont's five main political parties at some point during his brief time in the city. | Mr Biden is also set to meet the leaders of Stormont's five main political parties at some point during his brief time in the city. |
| There has been a huge police presence in the centre of Belfast since Monday afternoon and that will continue into Wednesday. | There has been a huge police presence in the centre of Belfast since Monday afternoon and that will continue into Wednesday. |
| Michelle O'Neill, vice-president of Sinn Féin, the largest party at Stormont, said President Biden's visit would be a "special moment". | Michelle O'Neill, vice-president of Sinn Féin, the largest party at Stormont, said President Biden's visit would be a "special moment". |
| "As we look back with pride at just how far we have all come, and all that has been achieved, we also look forward with hope, ambition, and opportunity for the next 25 years," she added. | "As we look back with pride at just how far we have all come, and all that has been achieved, we also look forward with hope, ambition, and opportunity for the next 25 years," she added. |
| The Good Friday Agreement explained in 90 seconds | The Good Friday Agreement explained in 90 seconds |
| The Good Friday Agreement explained in 90 seconds | The Good Friday Agreement explained in 90 seconds |
| Former Irish ambassador to the US Daniel Mulhall said that while Mr Biden would have preferred to have spoken to politicians at a functioning Stormont assembly, his speech would be "very carefully crafted to get across the message that essentially America is here to help". | Former Irish ambassador to the US Daniel Mulhall said that while Mr Biden would have preferred to have spoken to politicians at a functioning Stormont assembly, his speech would be "very carefully crafted to get across the message that essentially America is here to help". |
| Mr Sunak will not meet any of Northern Ireland's political leaders while he is in Belfast to speak to the president, but a spokesperson said that did not mean he had given up on getting the DUP back into power-sharing. | Mr Sunak will not meet any of Northern Ireland's political leaders while he is in Belfast to speak to the president, but a spokesperson said that did not mean he had given up on getting the DUP back into power-sharing. |
| Joe Biden will visit the locations marked on this map during his four days in Ireland | Joe Biden will visit the locations marked on this map during his four days in Ireland |
| Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement - the deal which heralded the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. | Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement - the deal which heralded the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. |
| They look at what the agreement actually said and hear from some of the people who helped get the deal across the line. | They look at what the agreement actually said and hear from some of the people who helped get the deal across the line. |
| Listen to all episodes of Year '98: The Making of the Good Friday Agreement on BBC Sounds. | Listen to all episodes of Year '98: The Making of the Good Friday Agreement on BBC Sounds. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Belfast | Belfast |
| United States | United States |
| Good Friday Agreement | Good Friday Agreement |
| Joe Biden | Joe Biden |