Brussels prepares to receive Biden this Sunday

Brussels is preparing to receive this Sunday the president of the United States, Joe Biden, who will be in the Belgian capital until June 15 to attend a NATO summit on Monday and a European summit on Tuesday, two events that will force a large police deployment and impact traffic.

The Belgian capital has spent days planning the security measures linked to these events, which are expected to cause traffic jams both around the NATO headquarters, on the outskirts of Brussels, and in the European quarter.

The Brussels police have warned that between June 13 and 15, barriers will be installed and parking will be prohibited in different areas of the capital.

More than 4,000 residents of the affected neighborhoods have been forced to obtain authorization to move freely, reports the Belgian agency.

Brussels Police spokeswoman Ilse van De Keere pointed out that “all vehicles, not just cars, but also motorcycles, bicycles and scooters” parked in the designated areas will be removed.

Other neighborhoods that will be impacted by the visit of the American president are the surroundings of the Royal Palace, where Biden will meet with King Felipe on Tuesday, and the surroundings of The Hotel, on Louise Avenue, where the American delegation plans to stay, while that the president will do it at the American embassy, ​​around which a security perimeter will be established.

For three days, the neighborhood of that embassy will be closed, including all the terraces and cafes.

Biden, accompanied by the Secretary of State of the United States, Anthony Blinken, and the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, is scheduled to arrive at Melsbroek military airport on Sunday night, around 8:40 p.m. local time (6:40 p.m. GMT), where the Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, will receive him.

On Tuesday Biden and Blinken will be received at the royal palace by King Philip and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sophie Wilmès.