Biden to Visit Ireland Next Week... Will Not Attend UK Charles III Coronation Ceremony

Belfast Agreement 25th Anniversary Commemorative Tour

U.S. President Joe Biden will consecutively visit Northern Ireland and Ireland, both part of the United Kingdom, from the 11th to the 14th. He will not attend the coronation of King Charles III of the United Kingdom, scheduled for the 6th of next month, and his wife, Jill Biden, is expected to attend in his place.

On the 5th (local time), the White House announced that President Biden will first visit Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, on the 11th to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement, and then visit Ireland to "discuss close cooperation on shared global challenges."

The White House stated, "President Biden is scheduled to visit Dublin, County Louth, County Mayo, and other locations to participate in various events," adding, "He will deliver a speech there to celebrate the deep and historic ties between the United States and these regions."

The Belfast Agreement (Good Friday Agreement), signed on April 10, 1998, by the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Northern Ireland parties, is a peace accord that ended the bloody conflict that had continued since the 1960s. The agreement is regarded as a major diplomatic achievement of the United States, with President Clinton playing a behind-the-scenes role as a mediator.

Meanwhile, President Biden will not attend the coronation of King Charles III of the United Kingdom on the 6th of next month, and his wife Jill Biden is expected to attend instead. President Biden informed King Charles III of this plan and sought his understanding during a phone call the day before.

Some have pointed out that President Biden's visits to Northern Ireland and Ireland, along with his absence from the coronation, could be perceived as a diplomatic slight against the United Kingdom, the United States' closest ally.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Separately, the White House announced that King Charles III proposed a state visit to the United States to President Biden, and President Biden accepted the invitation.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, "President Biden maintains a good relationship with King Charles III and had a positive conversation," adding, "During the call, King Charles III requested a state visit to the United States, and President Biden accepted. The friendly relations between the two countries remain unchanged."

Press Secretary Jean-Pierre added, "President Biden and King Charles III will meet again very soon," and "Their relationship is very good, and they share core values including on climate change."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.