↑ Leaders of many countries plan to attend the funeral of the Queen of England
It is reported that the funeral of the late Queen of England Elizabeth II will be held at Westminster Abbey, London on September 19 local time. It is understood that leaders from many countries, including US President Biden , Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau , Australian Prime Minister Albanys, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern , South Korean President Yoon Seo-yeol , Brazil President Bolsonaro , etc., have expressed that they will plan to attend the Queen's funeral. Japanese Emperor Naruhito and European royal families such as Spain also plan to attend the queen's funeral. In addition, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is also considering attending the Queen's funeral.
reports point out that the funerals of major politicians are also a special moment for world diplomacy. The funeral of the Queen of England is not just a funeral, but also an important occasion for the meeting of leaders of multilateral . According to reports, the last time the UK held a state funeral was held for former Prime Minister Churchill in 1965. At that time, politicians from 112 countries and regions attended the funeral. When the former UAE president passed away in May, leaders from countries including the United States, France, the United Kingdom and other countries also gathered in the UAE to mourn the former president.
↑The funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II will be held in Westminster Abbey, London,
"open the back door" for Biden?
British side: Biden does not have to take the bus
Previous reports pointed out that the British side has put forward stricter requirements for guests who come to attend the Queen's funeral. For example, in principle, foreign leaders only bring their spouses to attend, foreign leaders are not allowed to take their own special cars on the day of the funeral, but must take the bus designated by the UK, and foreign leaders are best to travel on commercial flights. Reports pointed out that this may put US President Biden in a dilemma because he usually needs to be equipped with a large number of security personnel when traveling. Timothy Miller, a security expert and former U.S. Secret Service official, believes that it is impossible for the U.S. president to take a unified bus or commercial flight. He explained that in previous similar activities, the president's security issues must be fully guaranteed by the host country.
has been reported that it is not clear what special treatment Biden will receive. However, according to media reports on September 12, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Trass said that as more and more foreign politicians have been confirmed to attend the Queen's funeral, the relevant arrangements will change. The spokesperson said that the documents previously given were only guidance and will be arranged according to the specific circumstances. When asked whether President Biden could arrange his itinerary according to his plan, the spokesperson gave a positive answer.
↑It is reported that Biden has been allowed to airlift his bulletproof car from the United States to the United Kingdom and can take his own car to attend the funeral
According to reports, when the US president visited London, he usually took the Air Force One special plane and landed at London Stansted Airport . Former US President Obama previously took " Air Force One " to Stansted Airport , then transferred to the "Marrior Corps One" helicopter to arrive in central London, and finally took the presidential car to the US Embassy in the UK near Regent Park .
According to the guidance documents previously released by the British side, foreign guests attending the Queen's funeral cannot use helicopters between the airport and the venue. However, it is reported that Biden has been allowed to airlift his bulletproof car from the United States to the United Kingdom and can take his own car to attend the funeral. It is reported that Biden's special car is a Cadillac worth $1.5 million, called "Beast". The car can withstand bullets and explosions, and the chassis is even more "indestructible". It is reported that the special car is equipped with night vision cameras, tear gas, etc. The doors are as heavy as those of the Boeing 757 aircraft, and the tires can also drive normally when deflated. In addition, the car is equipped with an oxygen system and a blood storage device for the president to use in critical situations.
report also stated that in addition to Biden, including Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Israeli President Herzog is also "very likely to be allowed to take his own dedicated means of transportation."
is not just an funeral
is more like a grand diplomatic event
An official who served as cabinet minister at the funeral of former British Prime Minister Mrs. Thatcher said that it is not surprising that even if all heads of government and leaders of Europe or other countries come to attend the Queen's funeral, it is not surprising. In the official's view, the Queen's funeral was like a grand diplomatic event, "This is the Queen's final contribution to the country." British think tank Chatham Institute researcher John Kampfner believes that this is a "unique" funeral. He said the Queen is one of the most famous people in the world, and the list of guests who came to her funeral should be "unprecedented".
It is reported that in addition to foreign leaders, the new British Prime Minister Tras and Labour Party leader Kil Stamer will also attend the funeral. This means that Tras may meet with US President Biden. It is understood that Tras received a warning from the United States when he took office due to the issue of the Northern Ireland Protocol, and the United States reminded her not to unilaterally tear the agreement.
Brazilian President Bolsonaro, who seems to be not closely related to the UK, will also attend the funeral. According to previous reports, after Queen Elizabeth II died, he immediately announced his national mourning for 3 days. Brazilian media analyzed that the Brazilian election is imminent, and polls show that the president may lose. The Brazilian president hopes to shoot some video footage of his funeral as material for his promotion, people familiar with the matter said. A staff member around the president revealed that the overseas guests attending the Queen's funeral this time were leaders of various countries, which could also highlight Bolsonaro's status as the current leader of Brazil, which is very beneficial to him.
In addition, it is reported that South Korean President Yoon Seo-hyuk will take the opportunity of attending the funeral to meet with the leaders of Western countries who are also attending the funeral in London to seek cooperation with the international community. It is understood that he will visit the UK, the United States and Canada from September 18, aiming to strengthen cooperation with partner countries that share core values and expand the foundation of economic diplomacy. The report also said that the leaders of South Korea, Japan and South Korea may take this opportunity to meet in London.
However, Kampfner believes that the Queen's funeral has very strict etiquette requirements, and the leaders attending the funeral will have to handle some private conversations or interactions carefully. "The leaders at the meeting should be very cautious to avoid being considered over-engagement in direct diplomacy," he said. Kampfner also noted that the Queen's funeral provided an opportunity for new British Prime Minister Tras to "let the world know her." However, he also warned that during this sensitive period, Tras should not participate too much in discussions on international issues. It is reported that the UK has entered a 10-day mourning period, and Tras will not hold a formal meeting with foreign leaders. Analysts believe that Tras had to wait until UN General Assembly later held in New York, USA before having a substantial dialogue with everyone.
Conservative MP Peter Bonn also believes that if the foreign head of state expresses condolences and respect for the queen, it will have a certain impact. "But it would be very out of place to discuss topics like free trade agreements at the Queen's funeral," he said.
Red Star News Reporter Li Jinrui
Editor Guan Li Pan Li
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