Joe Biden visits Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland | Political news

Joe Biden will travel to Northern Ireland following an official invitation from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The invitation was extended when the couple met for interviews in San Diego to announce nuclear submarine deal with Australia.

“I intend to go to Northern Ireland and the Republic,” Mr Biden said when they met at Naval Base Point Loma.

Mr Sunak told the chairman: “I look forward to our conversations and, equally important, to inviting you to Northern Ireland, which I hope you can do and so that we can commemorate the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

“I know this is something very special and personal for you. We would love to have you.”

Mr Biden said: “Twenty-five? That seems like yesterday.”

Details of Mr Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are expected to be revealed soon.

The American president often highlights his Irish roots and takes a keen interest in issues related to the agreement.

Mr Sunak revealed that Mr Biden had also invited him to visit Washington DC in June.

After the talks, he told reporters, “It’s great that we’re seeing each other a lot over the next few months.

“I was delighted to accept the President’s invitation to visit him in DC in June.”

What is the Good Friday Agreement?

The Good Friday Agreement (GFA) was signed with the aim of ending the ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland at the time, known as the Troubles, which began in the late 1960s.

After Ireland became an independent state and Northern Ireland became part of the United Kingdom, Nationalists (who wanted to join the Republic of Ireland) and Unionists (who wanted Northern Ireland remains part of the UK) fought for nearly 30 years, until the deal. was signed on April 10, 1998.

A new government has been formed in Northern Ireland representing both sides to foster cooperation between the two communities.

But Brexit shook up the political situation, with Northern Ireland being the only UK country to border an EU country – the Republic of Ireland.

Border checks would disrupt the GFA, the two nations say, so the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed in order to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.

The UK has since accepted the Windsor Framework with the EU to try to overcome the problems with the protocol.

The new post-Brexit deal was designed to reduce the number of checks on goods entering Northern Ireland ports by designating two lanes. Goods traveling through Northern Ireland to reach the Republic – which is part of the EU – will go through a red lane for all relevant customs checks, while those sent only to Northern Ireland will go through a red lane. green.