What details do we know regarding Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland?
US President Joe Biden arrived in Belfast (the capital of Northern Ireland), yesterday, Tuesday, on a “historic” visit to a crisis region, for which hopes were not sufficient to end decades of tension and violence.
Until this moment, the circumstances surrounding the visit appear to be more complex than announced. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was unable to “win” this visit and turn it into the first diplomatic and historic “victory” since his arrival in “Downing Street” last October, nor statements The US President on his way to Belfast appears to be in harmony with the general atmosphere, as the latter said that the purpose of his visit is to “ensure the success of the Good Friday Agreement and the Windsor Act in maintaining peace.”
It is clear that Northern Ireland’s celebration, in the presence of British and American leaders, of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the peace agreement is not a simple detail, especially as it coincides with a period when the executive authority in the country is experiencing a real impasse amid the Democratic Unionist Party’s insistence on suspending its political participation.
But what are the most important details that we know regarding this visit, which the American press preferred to describe as a “private” or “family” visit?
- Joe Biden is the second Irish Catholic president of the United States following John F. Kennedy, and this is his first visit to the country since he came to the presidency.
- Statistics show that more than 30 million people in the United States of America still believe they are of Irish descent.
- Historically, nationalists have been more enthusiastic than unionists regarding the role played by lobbyists in Washington through politicians of Irish descent. This is exactly what raises fears today that Biden’s visit will lead to the opposite of what is hoped for, and cause more obstinacy among trade unionists.
- Biden rejected the invitation he received from the Northern Ireland Assembly, or “Stormont”, to deliver a speech at its headquarters in the suburbs of Belfast, which is a symbolic message, but it will exacerbate the impact of Sunak’s “failure” to drag the Democratic Unionist Party back to power before the twenty-fifth anniversary of the peace agreement.
- Contacts between “Downing Street” and the White House witnessed some tensions last week during the preparation for the visit, and contrary to expectations, the meeting between leaders Sunak and Biden yesterday evening was limited to a warm but quick handshake at the runway of the giant plane “Air Force One”, and the meeting scheduled between them today will not be exceed thirty minutes.
- British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will not be present during the speech that Biden is scheduled to deliver this followingnoon at the University of Ulster.
- Although the main stated political purpose of this visit is to support power-sharing in Northern Ireland, Biden will only spend 15 hours there, while his “personal” and “family” visit will last two days or a little more, during which he will visit two of his relatives’ homes in the two counties of Louth. and may.
- Biden is bringing his sister, Valerie Biden Owens, and son, Hunter, with him, adding to the personal dimensions of the visit.
- Biden’s statements regarding his Irish roots, in various locations, have previously sparked controversy among trade unionists in particular.