Biden accepts Rishi Sunak’s invitation to Northern Ireland for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement – and jokes that he can also visit the UK Prime Minister’s $7.2million home in santa monica
- Biden said he plans to visit Northern Ireland and Ireland in April
- British Prime Minister Sunak invited him to a meeting in San Diego
- It will mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement
President Joe Biden on Monday accepted an invitation from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to visit Northern Ireland next month.
Sunak made the invitation during a meeting with Biden at Naval Station Point Loma in San Diego, suggesting he come in April to celebrate the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
“I know this is something very special and personal for you. We would love to have you,” the prime minister told the US president.
Biden is proud of his Irish roots, talks about it often, and in most of his speeches quotes an Irish poet.
And he plans to make the trip.
“I intend to go to Northern Ireland and the republic,” Biden said in response to a question from DailyMail.com.
President Joe Biden has accepted British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s invitation to visit Northern Ireland next month
Biden has long made it clear he wants to visit Ireland as president, but Northern Ireland’s trading status was causing diplomatic headaches during a presidential visit.
But that hurdle was lifted when Britain and the European Union agreed to the Windsor Framework, clearing the way for trade to cross the Irish-Northern Irish border.
Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, essentially remained in the European Union market, together with its neighbor the Republic of Ireland, an independent country, when the Britain voted to leave the EU.
The Windsor Framework will ensure the flow of goods without upsetting the Good Friday Agreement. The Belfast Agreement is also known as the Good Friday Agreement, as it was concluded on Good Friday April 10, 1998. It helped end 30 years of sectarian conflict on the island.
Biden had urged UK officials to protect the deal as they crafted post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.
‘Twenty five years. It seems to me like it was yesterday. Like yesterday,” the president reflected on Sunak’s invitation. “Thank you,” he added.
Biden’s mother’s family – the Finnegans – were Irish-American immigrants.
Joe Biden last visited Ireland in an official capacity in 2016 as Vice President – above Biden on this 2016 trip with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny
Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy own a luxury condo in Santa Monica – the building is above – with ocean views
President Biden speaks during his event with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in San Diego
Biden last visited Ireland in an official capacity in 2016 as vice president. This tour included stops in Dublin, Mayo and Louth – the capital plus the two counties of his ancestors.
Biden and Sunak stepped down during a meeting of leaders of aukus – the joint pact between the US, UK and Australia.
The president noted that Sunak was at home in California.
The Prime Minister is a graduate of Sanford University, where he met his wife, Akshata Murthy. The couple own a luxury condo in Santa Monica with ocean views. It is valued at $7.2 million.
Biden hinted that he would like an invitation.
“I want to welcome him to California. He’s a man from Stanford and he still has a home here in California. If I’m nice to him, maybe he’ll invite me to his California home,’ the president said as Sunak laughed.
The two leaders were also due to discuss their support for Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. The meeting came after Biden announced he would sell three fast-attack nuclear submarines to Australia as part of a deal with the UK to tackle the growing threat from China.
