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Biden to mark 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement with Ireland visit

Updated / Tuesday, 14 Mar 2023 20:00
Joe Biden pictured during the summit in San Diego, California
Joe Biden pictured during the summit in San Diego, California

US President Joe Biden has confirmed that he intends to visit Ireland and Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

He is expected to travel to a number of locations on both sides of the border next month.

No dates have yet been confirmed for the trip and the US President is not expected to travel 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.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed this morning that he intends to renew the invitation to Mr Biden to visit Ireland when he attends the St Patrick’s Day reception at the White House this week.

In a statement this afternoon, the White House said that Mr Biden will reaffirm his support for the Good Friday Agreement at his meeting with Mr Varadkar on Friday.

There was intense speculation for months that Mr Biden was keen to visit Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Biden was speaking after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak formally invited him to visit Northern Ireland during a joint press conference.

It followed a trilateral meeting at the Port Loma naval base between the US, UK and Australia in San Diego, California, last night.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese, Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak at the press conference in San Diego

Mr Sunak said: "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.

"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."

Speaking in New York last night, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said he is looking forward to the visit next month.

The US Secret Service and US officials have carried out security assessments on several locations on both sides of the border in recent weeks.

Tourism Ireland said the visit will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase the island of Ireland to potential holidaymakers across the United States.

Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said: "The visit ... has the potential to deliver a major boost to Irish tourism in 2023 and beyond.

"A large media contingent will travel to Ireland to cover the visit, bringing the story to millions of people in the United States and elsewhere around the world and providing a truly unique opportunity to highlight the island of Ireland as a wonderful holiday destination."

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Meanwhile, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has said a visit to Northern Ireland by Mr Biden will not increase pressure on him to accept the Windsor Framework.

Speaking in Washington, Mr Donaldson said: "We have had many American presidents who have taken time to visit our part of the United Kingdom.

"The really important thing for not only the American administration but for all of us is to ensure that we make progress on the basis of solid foundations.

"If and when Stormont is back up and running again, that it is based on those solid foundations. That is what we will work towards, however long that takes.

"I am totally focused on what we need to achieve in terms of our seven tests and the objectives we set out in terms of having the protocol replaced with new arrangements that respect Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom.

"Whether the president visits or not, I have no arbitrary deadline here. I am not under any pressure in terms of timelines.

"I want to get this right. However long that takes is how long it will take," said Mr Donaldson.

Clintons to attend conference to mark agreement in Belfast

Former US president Bill Clinton is set to visit Belfast to attend an international conference to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement at Queen's University.

His wife, Hillary Clinton, a former US secretary of state, is chancellor of Queen's University and will also be visiting Belfast to host the three-day conference.

Mr Clinton played a prominent role in the negotiations leading up to the agreement, signed on 10 April 1998, and has revisited Northern Ireland several times since.

The conference will run from 17-19 April.

Additional reporting PA

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