US President Joe Biden's four-day trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland begins this evening.
The US President will visit Belfast to mark 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to greet the US President off the steps of Air Force One.
President Biden will address students at Ulster University tomorrow for his one big public engagement in Northern Ireland.
Immediately after, he'll fly to Dublin and is expected to visit Co, Louth tomorrow evening where he may do a walkabout in Dundalk.
The White House has confirmed he'll also tour Carlingford Castle in Co Louth tomorrow and attend a gala dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday and visit Knock Shrine on Friday.
The excitement is building in Ballina! 🇮🇪🇺🇸
Register to attend President Biden’s public remarks outside St. Muredach’s Cathedral on Friday April 14.
➡️ https://t.co/H53e8DAo0Nhttps://t.co/t4dSE8HeUr— U.S. Embassy Dublin (@USEmbassyDublin) April 11, 2023
A massive security operation is underway in Northern Ireland where the PSNI was already on high alert amid the threat of dissident activity around the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
Joe Biden's security team says he's more than comfortable visiting Northern Ireland despite the heightened risks.
John Kirby from the US National Security Council says the President is looking forward to arriving in Ireland.
"This [has been] timed closer to the actual anniversary of the Belfast-Good Friday agreement, an agreement that the President has a personal connection with.
"As for security concerns, you know, we don't ever talk about security requirements for protecting the President, but the President is more than comfortable making this trip, and he's very excited to do it".
"The president is grateful for the work that Northern Ireland security forces have done and continues to do to protect all communities and certainly the people in Northern Ireland, and he's, very much looking forward to going to Belfast".
