Biden to host Irish Taoiseach for St. Patrick’s Day

President Biden will host Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day, continuing with the tradition for the president to host the prime minister for the holiday.

Varadkar will be in Washington for the St. Patrick’s Day celebration on March 17 and before that, he will have a bilateral meeting with the president on March 15, the White House announced on Tuesday.

Biden and Varadkar are expected to discuss support for Ukraine amid the war with Russia and coordination on the war in the Middle East, according to the White House. They will also “reaffirm their steadfast support for the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.”

Biden visited Ireland in April to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, expressing his strong support for the peace deal. He made his long-time support for the agreement, which was struck in 1998 to end the conflict between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland, known during a speech to parliament in Belfast.

Biden often talks about his Irish heritage and after Belfast, he made an emotional and personal visit to County Louth and County Mayo, which was where his ancestors lived.

Before the bilateral meeting on Friday, Vice President Harris and second gentleman Emhoff are set to host Varadkar and his partner, Matthew Barrett, for a breakfast at the Naval Observatory.