US President Joe Biden has confirmed that he intends to visit Northern Ireland and the Republic to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak formally invited Mr Biden to visit Northern Ireland during a joint press conference in San Diego last night.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that he intends to renew the invitation to the President to visit Ireland when he attends the St Patrick's Day reception at the White House.
In a post on Twitter, he wrote: "Good news that President Biden plans to visit Ireland in the near future. I look forward to discussing the visit during my meeting with the President later this week."
Mr Sunak issued the invitation to visit Northern Ireland after a trilateral meeting at the Port Loma naval base between the US, UK and Australia.
"It’s a great pleasure to be here. I look forward to our conversations and also importantly, to invite you to Northern Ireland, which hopefully you will be able to do and so we can commemorate the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement," he said.
"I know it’s something that’s very special and personal to you, we’d love to have you over."
Mr Biden replied: "Twenty five years? It seems like yesterday. Thank you."
Asked by reporters if he will visit Northern Ireland he added: "It is my intention to go to Northern Ireland and the Republic."
US President Joe Biden has confirmed that he intends to visit Northern Ireland and the Republic to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement | Read more: https://t.co/B5xXncEKcl pic.twitter.com/vK8L8nSDFv
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 14, 2023
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Micheál Martin welcomed the news saying Mr Biden's commitment to the Good Friday Agreement has been "extraordinary".
It is 'very welcome news' that US President Joe Biden plans to vist Ireland next month, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said.
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 14, 2023
Mr Martin said Mr Biden's commitment to the Good Friday Agreement has been 'extraordinary' | Read more: https://t.co/B5xXncEKcl pic.twitter.com/zp7Bp9XkyK
No dates have yet been confirmed but the US President is not expected to visit on the actual anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement on 10 April.
It is understood the visit is more likely to take place the following week.
The US Secret Service and other US personnel have carried out security assessments on several locations on both sides of the border in recent weeks.
US security advance teams are understood to have visited sites in Dublin and Belfast in recent weeks ahead of a visit by US President Joe Biden, which is likely to happen at some point in the first half of April. Apparently no examination of locations in Mayo and Louth just yet.
— Mícheál Lehane (@MichealLehane) March 13, 2023
