US President Joe Biden has landed in Belgium
Sylvie Claire / June 14, 2021
U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in Brussels on Sunday evening to attend a NATO summit on Monday and a meeting with the presidents of the EU institutions on Tuesday before his meeting with the Russian president in Geneva on Wednesday.
Departing from London, where Joe Biden made a state visit after his first G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, Air Force One landed at Melsbroek military airport in Brussels at 20:49.
One of our teams was present on the tarmac of Melsbroek to attend the event. As soon as Air Force One, the plane carrying the American president and his staff, landed, a red carpet was rolled out.
The President was welcomed by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. A handshake and a brief exchange, then Joe Biden boarded The Beast, one of the armored limousines of the U.S. Presidency, to reach the U.S. Embassy in Brussels where he will stay during his stay.
A major security detail has been put in place to ensure the safety of the American president and the leaders of the other 29 Alliance countries during their stay. The people of Brussels have been informed of the difficulties expected for their travel during the two days of the visit of the American president.
The Belgian Prime Minister was present at 8:30 p.m. and took position to welcome Joe Biden as soon as he came down the steps. A fanfare composed of about twenty people had also been planned to receive the American president with music.
The moment was timed: when he got off the plane, Joe Biden was supposed to stay only 66 seconds on the tarmac, precisely. The president finally stayed a little longer, between 1 minute 30 and 2 minutes, the time to speak with Alexander De Croo.
On the runway, about thirty photographers, journalists and cameramen were present for many hours to immortalize the event. The security rules are drastic: the reporters had to be present from 3pm and our team underwent a series of checks and all our equipment was scrupulously inspected.
The reception of the American president lasted only a few minutes. After getting off Air Force One at 9:04 pm, Joe Biden had already reached his armored vehicle to leave the air base at 9:07 pm.
The Nato summit on Monday will mark the reunion between America and its allies, which have been battered during the presidency of Donald Trump. The working session is expected to last three hours, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and adopt a negotiated declaration between the capitals.