US President Joe Biden will be attending COP26 in Glasgow, the White House has officially confirmed.

President Biden was expected to attend the UN climate summit, which takes place from October 31 to November 12, however this is the first time the attendance has been confirmed.

He will arrive after a visit to Rome, where he will meet with Pope Francis.

A statement from the White House reads: "President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Rome, Italy for the G20 Leaders’ Summit on October 30-31.

"Additional information about individual bilateral engagements on the margins of the G20 will be forthcoming.

"The President and Dr. Biden will also visit Vatican City and have an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis on October 29. 

"They will discuss working together on efforts grounded in respect for fundamental human dignity, including ending the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling the climate crisis, and caring for the poor.

"From Rome, President Biden will travel to Glasgow, United Kingdom from November 1-2 to participate in the World Leader Summit at the start of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26)."

It comes as last week the Vatican announced that the Pope would not travel to Scotland for the climate summit. 

Now with President Biden confirming his attendance, fears of major motorway closures between cities could come to fruition as parts of the M8 are set to be shut with the world leaders who are staying in Edinburgh travelling to Glasgow.

Both President Biden and the Queen will be staying in the captial and last week it was reported that the Police Scotland were informed of protest on J19 of the M8.

The protest has sparked security fears as the junction is dedicated for VIPs who will be escorted off the motorway to the Clyde Expressway, which is reserved for COP26 traffic.

More than 100 heads of state are expected to attend the conference, which takes place from October 31 to November 12, along with representatives from around 200 countries.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.