US president Joe Biden has said the priority of his trip to Ireland is to ensure the Good Friday Agreement and the Windsor Framework "stay in place".
He was speaking to reporters just before boarding Air Force One in Maryland to begin his journey to Northern Ireland.
Asked what was the main aim of his trip, Mr Biden responded: "Make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor agreement stay in place. Keep the peace - that's the main thing."
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The president said two family members "who haven't been there before" would be accompanying him.
Mr Biden is expected to arrive after 9pm in Northern Ireland where he will be greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The US president will stay overnight, with his main engagement in Northern Ireland - a keynote speech at Ulster University's new Belfast campus - taking place on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Biden will then travel to the Irish Republic, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo, from where his ancestors hail.
The US president's visit has been timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles.
Earlier Mr Biden tweeted: “25 years ago, Northern Ireland’s leaders chose peace. The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement ended decades of violence and brought stability.
"I look forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast, underscoring the US commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity."
His visit comes at a time when Stormont's power-sharing institutions which resulted from the 1998 peace deal are not functioning.
The devolved government collapsed last year when the DUP pulled out in protest against Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.
The party has since raised concerns about the Windsor Framework deal between the UK and European Union which was aimed at addressing issues with new post-Brexit trade barriers.
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