Joe Biden in Belfast to mark 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement

US President Joe Biden has landed in Belfast at the start of his historic four-day visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Biden was greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Snak as he stepped off Air Force One at Belfast International Airport.

His visit marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a peace deal that helped end 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland.

The White House has praised the “tremendous progress” since it was signed in 1998.

But Biden’s visit is overshadowed by the fact that Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government isn’t working.

Last year, one of Stormont’s largest political parties, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), collapsed when it withdrew as part of a protest against Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trade rules.

Biden arrived in Belfast city center at around 22:20 BST after traveling from the airport in the presidential motorcade.

A large security operation was carried out for much of Tuesday, closing many city center streets ahead of the visit.

Ahead of his arrival, Mr Biden said he was looking forward to celebrating his anniversary in Belfast, “underscoring America’s commitment to maintaining peace and promoting prosperity.”

His trip to Belfast is the first leg of a four-day stay in Ireland, during which he will talk about his Irish roots and meet Irish relatives. His sister Valerie and his son Hunter are also accompanying the president on his visit.

On Tuesday, police found four suspected pipe bombs on the grounds of the city cemetery in Delhi. They believe they were to be used in an attack on officers planned after Monday’s parade.

A presidential spokesman said that despite the threat of terrorism, Biden was “comfortable to make this visit.”

In that speech, he is expected to underscore the United States’ willingness to help preserve what he sees as the peace and prosperity gained since the Good Friday Accord.

The president will also speak about how the US government can help Northern Ireland’s economy.

Biden also plans to meet with leaders of the city’s five major political parties at some point during his short stay in Stormont.

There was a large police presence in central Belfast from Monday afternoon, which will continue until Wednesday.

Michelle O’Neill, vice president of Stormont’s largest political party, Sinn Fein, said a visit by President Biden would be a “special moment.”

“I look back with pride on all that has been done and achieved, and look forward to the hopes, ambitions and opportunities of the next 25 years,” she added.

Former Irish ambassador to the United States, Daniel Mulhall, said Biden wanted to talk to politicians in a functioning Stormont parliament, but his speech “essentially sends the message that America is here to help.” It was created very carefully for that purpose,” he said.

Sunak does not plan to meet with Northern Ireland’s political leaders while he is in Belfast to meet with the president, but a spokesperson said he has not given up on returning the DUP to power sharing.

Declan Harvey and Tara Mills examine the text of the Good Friday Pact that marked the end of Troubles in Northern Ireland.

They will see what the agreement actually says and hear from some of the people who helped build it.