CORNWALL GETS READY FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN
US president Joe Biden is expected to fly directly into Cornwall’s Newquay airport for the G7 Summit this summer.
But there is speculation that his presidential car, the nine ton armoured Cadillac nicknamed “The Beast,” may stay back in
Washington to avoid the risk of getting stuck in the lanes of West Cornwall.
US authorities are expected to visit Carbis Bay shortly to finalise plans for Mr Biden’s visit with other world leaders in June.
US officials are to undertake a careful reconnaissance of the roads leading to Carbis Bay – to see if the President’s official armoured car, nicknamed The Beast, can negotiate Cornwall’s narrow roads.
According to reports, President Joe Biden plans to fly to Newquay Airport in Air Force One to attend June’s three day G7 Summit at the resort, near St Ives.
But there are concerns his usual means of road transport – a specially built £1.1million Cadillac with 5inthick bulletproof windows – might be too wide for some of the narrow lanes around the picturesque resort
It could mean he is driven around while in Cornwall with the other world leaders from June 11 to 13, in a smaller armoured vehicle.
According to the Daily Mail, Mr Biden is expected to fly into Newquay airport on Air Force One, the presidential aircraft, and a helicopter, Marine One, will take him on to Carbis Bay.
He will be joined at the Cornish resort by Emmannuel Macron of France, Angela Merkel of Germany and the leaders of Italy, Canada and Japan for the global talks hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Also attending will be the leaders of Australia and South Korea.
US presidents bring a huge entourage with them on overseas visits, usually including The Beast which ensures the safety of the leader of the free world when he is away from home.
But according to reports, this time the iconic vehicle – as much an expression of US power as a means of transport – could stay back in Washington.
In 2009, during a visit by Barack Obama to see the then UK PM Gordon Brown, the car almost got stuck turning around in Downing Street.
Donald Trump brought The Beast to London for his 2019 state visit. But for the 2019 G7 summit in the French seaside resort of Biarritz he was driven in a smaller armoured SUV. President Trump used a similar car last October when he drove past supporters at the hospital where he was being treated for Covid-19.
The G7 Summit is expected to catapult Cornwall and Carbis Bay onto the front pages of newspapers and the top of TV news bullentins all around the world. Among the issues to be discussed will be climate change, green energy and rebuilding after Covid-19.