Biden arrives in Northern Ireland to mark peace deal anniversary

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks while hosting a virtual St. Patrick's Day meeting with Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin after Irish Taoiseach Martin tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after arriving in Washington, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 17, 2022. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

BELFAST (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden was welcomed to Northern Ireland by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday as he flew in for a brief visit to mark the 25th anniversary of a peace deal that largely ended 30 years of bloodshed.

Biden, who is fiercely proud of his Irish heritage, will spend just over half a day in the British-run region before travelling to the Republic of Ireland for almost three days of meetings with officials and distant relatives.