•POTUS Joe Biden says his priority is to 'keep the peace' in Northern Ireland as he sets off on Air Force One for his visit to Belfast
Hundreds of extra police officers have been drafted into Belfast ahead of Joe Biden's arrival
Mr Sunak's press secretary said: "I wouldn't characterise it as that. The prime minister will see him tonight, he will see him again tomorrow." On Bedford Street police officers are patrolling at barricades close to the Grand Central Hotel but pedestrians can pass through and businesses in the area are operating as usual.Things have been strained between Downing Street and the White House in terms of what the president will do in Northern Ireland and the fact that he will not go to Stormont.
The fact that he will be doing other things elsewhere in Northern Ireland at the time is telling considering how important this visit is.Michelle O'Neill, the vice-president of Sinn Féin, the largest party at Stormont, said President Biden's visit to mark the Good Friday Agreement anniversary would be a "special moment".
But he warned that American influence on Northern Ireland politics had to be used with "care and sensitivity". But he added: "His speech [at Ulster University] will be very carefully crafted to get across the message that essentially America is here to help."
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