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Joe Biden said his visit to Northern Ireland was to ensure “the Brits didn't screw around”

Friday, May 12th 2023 - 10:59 UTC
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President Biden met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his visit to Belfast President Biden met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his visit to Belfast

Speaking at a Democratic Party event in New York on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said his visit to Northern Ireland was to ensure “the British didn't screw around,” according to a report from BBC in the US City.

Mr. Biden undertook a four-day visit to Ireland in April to mark 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement.

The trip also focused on the president's Irish ancestry with the majority of his time spent in the Republic of Ireland.

On Wednesday, Mr Biden said: “I got to go back to Ireland for the, for the, the Irish Accords, to make sure they weren't, the Brits didn't screw around and Northern Ireland didn't walk away from their commitments.”

Before setting off for his visit to Belfast, Mr Biden told reporters his priority was to “keep the peace” in Northern Ireland.

During his stay, commentators remarked on his limited contact with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

The White House said both leaders “reaffirmed their shared commitment” to the Good Friday Agreement.

The 1998 deal brought an end to the Troubles - the decades-long violent conflict in Northern Ireland in which thousands of people were killed.

The president urged politicians to make a return to power-sharing during his speech at the Ulster University of Belfast campus on 12 April.

The Northern Ireland Executive collapsed last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) pulled out as part of a protest against post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.

A new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland, called the Windsor Framework, was formally adopted by the UK and EU in March, however, the DUP has yet to drop its protest.

In response to President Biden's remarks on Thursday, a Downing Street spokesperson said “the UK priority was always protecting the Good Friday Agreement”.

“We are pleased between the UK and EU we have reached an agreement that works,” they added.

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  • brasherboot

    Biden is heading a weakening power.

    A power should have enemies that fear it, and allies that trust it.

    The USA is losing both of these.

    May 13th, 2023 - 08:14 am +2
  • Livepeanuts

    What an excellent choice of allies made by the foolish old ice cream scoffer!
    When he needs soldiers to march alongside the USA lads in to battle what better than call for an Irish division!
    When he needs navy there you are! An Irish Carrier group will do the job nicely!
    Air Force the Republican Irish Air Force, best in the world!
    The Ice cream scoffer with his penetrating intelligence and the mere agility of the man to jump on planes, has managed to choose the only country to send condolences to Germany for the death of Hitler! When the scoffers' fantastic allies did that they danced on the graves of many an USA kid who died side by side with British kids fighting Hitler! If there was any Irish kid around it was a brave volunteer not liked at all in the Republic on his return, overlooked for rewards and benefits! They went and fought Hitler! Not what the Republic allied of the agile scoffer approved of!

    May 12th, 2023 - 03:54 pm +1
  • bushpilot

    What you say would not be good for the world.

    And the U.S. military is very likely cringing at the words of this idiot, who also has a worldwide reputation as a blithering moron who says really stupid things.

    Which ally of the U.S. does it work best with?

    Which ally of the U.S. has a military with teeth?

    Biden is a dirt-bag politician who believes the first purpose of a mouth is to bullshit people into giving him their vote.

    If this guy wasn't president, he'd be in diapers at an old folks home.

    And he will try to run again. If he wins, Kamala Harris will be president within the year.

    That too would not be good for the world.

    May 13th, 2023 - 04:50 pm +1
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