President Biden and key U.S. allies will visit Normandy on Thursday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion that ended World War II.
Mr Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau together mark the Western allies’ most significant victory in World War II, as well as the largest seaborne invasion in history. Mr Biden is in France all weekend for the D-Day anniversary commemoration and plans to meet key allies along the way.
“73,000 brave Americans landed on the beaches of Utah and Omaha, Normandy, on June 6, 1944, and the President will greet American veterans and their family members while in France to honor their sacrifice,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. at the announcement of the president’s speech. trip.
Members of Congress from both parties, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, will also attend Thursday’s D-Day commemorations.
The D-Day operation of June 6, 1944, codenamed OVERLORD, sent five Marine assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France. The invasion involved 7,000 ships and landing craft, operated by more than 195,000 naval personnel. More than 130,000 troops from the US, Britain and their allies landed on the coast. Many more soldiers followed, and their efforts helped lead to the defeat of the German Nazi forces.
The president plans to give a speech from the Point du Hoc cliffs in Normandy on Friday that will highlight the men who climbed those cliffs, democracy and the “dangers of isolationism,” according to national security adviser Jake Sullivan. In his speech, the president will draw a line from World War II to the formation of NATO to today, as war once again haunts Europe, Sullivan said.
The festivities continue on Saturday as Mr Biden takes part in a parade procession to the Elysee Palace. And on Sunday, Mr Biden will lay a wreath at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, where World War I veterans are buried.
AP
One of the allies Biden will meet in France is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as Ukraine continues to suffer from the Russian onslaught.
The president is expected to have an “extensive discussion” with Macron on a range of issues, including the Middle East, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, technology and clean energy, Sullivan said. Macron and Mr. Biden will make joint press appearances on Saturday, and Macron will host a state dinner for the president and first lady Jill Biden on Saturday.
Forever young veterans
In 2018, then-President Donald Trump abandoned the trip to Normandy to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day while in Paris, citing bad weather, a move that drew heavy criticism.
Kristin Brown contributed to this report
