President Joe Biden landed in France Wednesday morning, where he was greeted by a French honor guard ahead of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of World War II.
The president will be joined by world leaders to commemorate the anniversary Thursday by visiting the beaches of Normandy, where 73,000 U.S. forces landed on June 6, 1944, to begin the liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation.
President Biden is expected to meet with veterans and honor their service, and participate in a ceremony commemorating the anniversary in Normandy.
Friday, he will deliver remarks on freedom and democracy at Pointe du Hoc, France. The location marks the point between Omaha and Utah beaches where Army rangers scaled the cliffs against fortified German positions.
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President Biden’s speech Friday is expected to connect Allied forces' efforts in World War II to defend freedom and democracy and the post-war international order, to the order threatened by Russian president Vladimir Putin amid his continued war in Ukraine.
The White House said President Biden will also meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss continued U.S. support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said President Biden will draw a line from the Cold War and establishment of NATO to the present day, when Europe deals with war and the alliance has rallied together.
While the trip marks a departure from the campaign trail for President Biden, it marks the start of significant international engagement that will include attending the G7 summit in Italy next week.
