Belgian king Philippe and his daughter, crown princess Elisabeth, received former US president Barack Obama at the Castle of Laeken on Sunday, the royal palace said on X with a photo. Later in the day, Obama will travel to Puurs Sint-Amands in the province of Antwerp to give a speech at a technology conference.
It is not the first time the former US president has met king Philippe. The Belgian monarch welcomed Obama to the royal palace in 2014 as part of a state visit that was followed by his participation in the G7 summit.
Obama is expected late on Sunday afternoon at the Studio 100 pop-up theatre in Puurs-Saint-Amand for a talk entitled “An evening with President Barack Obama”, as a prelude to the Supernova technology festival organised by Flanders Technology and Innovation (FTI).
The FTI Festival is an umbrella term for festivals in six cities, all of which are taking place between 15 and 24 March. Obama will “take part in a moderated discussion about the challenges we face and his vision for the future”. The Antwerp technology festival will also feature speakers from renowned technology and innovation companies such as IDEO, Tesla, NASA, Apple and Wired.
Security measures
In the municipality of Puurs-Sint-Amands, about 25 kilometres south of the city of Antwerp, strict security measures are in place during Obama’s visit. Drones will be banned in the vicinity of the Studio 100 pop-up theatre from 12 noon to 10 pm on Sunday.
“Everything is in place, and now all we can do is wait in suspense”
Mayor Koen Van den Heuvel said the temporary drone ban came at the request of security forces to ensure the safety of the airspace during the event. Like other dignitaries, Obama will arrive at the venue with a police escort. The venue will undergo a security sweep before his arrival. “Everything is in place, and now all we can do is wait in suspense,” the mayor said.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO BELGIAN ROYAL PALACE ON X
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