During his visit to Northern Ireland to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the excellent Friday Agreement, the prime minister said he had a “very good discussion” with the president of the United States, despite growing concerns about the absence of engagements between the two leaders.
The relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, according to Rishi Sunak, is “in great shape” after he met with Joe Biden, despite harsh criticism of the president from one of Northern Ireland’s major parties.
Mr. Biden arrived in the region late last night for his journey to Ireland to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and was greeted on the tarmac at Belfast International by the prime minister.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) claimed the president is “anti-British” and “hates the UK” despite his Irish roots.
The White House called the allegations “simply untrue” and said Mr. Biden was “a strong supporter” of bilateral cooperation.
Commentators have also questioned the paucity of time Mr. Sunak and his US counterpart spent together during the four-day trip, with only a 45-minute coffee at the Belfast Grand Central Hotel on Wednesday – dubbed a “bi-latte” by one US newspaper – scheduled.
The prime minister underlined that this was the president’s fourth visit to the UK since taking office. And two more meetings were scheduled for May and June.
Mr. Sunak told reporters following the meeting, “[Mr. Biden] and I had a very good discussion today about a variety of issues, including economic investment in Northern Ireland, as well as a variety of foreign policy issues, such as the significance of economic security, and this follows a meeting I had with him last month in the United States.
“We are very close partners and allies, and we work together and discuss a variety of issues. Including supporting Ukraine and, as I mentioned, economic security.
I believe the relationship is in excellent condition, and the president and I are collaborating on numerous projects.
Mr. Biden’s visit coincides with the ongoing paralysis of the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, caused by the DUP’s refusal to rejoin the power-sharing agreement over the UK government’s post-Brexit trade arrangements.
Mr. Sunak signed the Windsor Framework with the EU in February to resolve Northern Ireland Protocol difficulties.
Nevertheless, the DUP voted against it, arguing that Northern Ireland would still be subject to some EU regulations. Thereby jeopardizing its position within the UK’s internal market.
President Biden met with the leaders of the region’s five major political parties, including Sir Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP, after his conversation with Mr. Sunak and before delivering an address at Ulster University this afternoon to commemorate the Good Friday Agreement – the deal that largely ended 30 years of bloodshed between republicans and loyalists.
During his carefully worded speech, Mr. Biden stated that Brexit had created “complex challenges” for Northern Ireland. But he endorsed the Windsor Framework, stating that it addressed “the practical realities” of Brexit.
The president then urged a return to power-sharing at Stormont, stating, “As a friend, I trust it’s not too presumptuous of me to say that I believe the democratic institutions established by the Good Friday Agreement are essential to the future of Northern Ireland.
You decide to make, not mine.
Sir Jeffrey stated that his party “wants to see the political institutions back up and running,” but that any post-Brexit deal must ensure that Northern Ireland “continues to have access to the entire United Kingdom and its internal market and that the arrangements to facilitate trade with the EU do not impede our ability to trade with our own country.”
He elaborated: “I believe further work is required [on the framework], and we will engage with the government to determine what else can be done to respect and protect Northern Ireland’s ability to trade within the United Kingdom and its internal market.
“I want to see a solution that works for everyone in Northern Ireland.”
During their one-on-one meeting, Mr. Biden “did not seek to exert pressure” on him regarding a return to Stormont. As the president “recognizes it is the political leadership here that must make the decisions to move forward.”
Sinn Fein’s Northern Ireland leader, Michelle O’Neill, said Mr. Biden issued “a clear message to the DUP.”
She added, “I believe the message conveyed by this visit will be one of peace, prosperity, and stability. Which necessitates the functioning of the political pillar as well. I’m determined to make it work.”
Stephen Farry, Alliance Party deputy leader, said, “There was a very clear message today.” Northern Ireland must help itself, but the US has invested heavily in our peace effort and intends to continue.
“There was a very clear directive that the Assembly and the Executive [in Stormont] must be restored, and soon, so that we can ensure that we can do the bare minimum to attract investment. It is available to us, but unless we get our act together, it will not occur.”
Colum Eastwood, leader of the SDLP, told that in his meetings with party leaders, Vice President Biden was “very clear” that there were “huge opportunities” for American investment in the region and that the United States desired to support the peace process.
“But we need political stability,” he continued. “We require a gathering. The DUP must return to the government. It is fairly evident and readily available. I do not understand how anyone could refuse such a generous offer.
“The DUP needs to move forward. The agreement between [the United Kingdom] and Europe has been reached, and it is a positive one. It permits us to participate in both markets. The Americans desire to aid us. Let’s get started.”
Earlier on Wednesday, other DUP members launched vitriolic attacks against the president in advance of his Northern Ireland speech.
Sammy Wilson, one of the party’s representatives, asserted that Mr. Biden had “a history of being pro-Republican, anti-Unionist, and anti-British.”
Baroness Foster, the former first minister of Northern Ireland, stated that the president “hates the United Kingdom.”
Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the US National Security Council, called the claims “simply false,” adding, “The fact that the president will meet with the prime minister of the UK for the third time in three months, and then again next month and again in June, demonstrates how close our cooperation is with the UK.
“President Biden is obviously a very proud Irish-American, and he is proud of his Irish roots, but he is also a strong supporter of our bilateral partnership with the United Kingdom, and not only on a bilateral basis, but also within NATO, the G7, and on the UN Security Council, and we truly work in lockstep with the British government on all of the most pressing global challenges that our countries face.”
Some have speculated that the US president would have spent more time in the region if Stormont had been in session, but instead, he will travel to Ireland this afternoon for several engagements, including a meeting with the Irish president and prime minister in Dublin and a visit to Carlingford Castle in County Louth, where he has family roots.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris attended the president’s speech on behalf of the UK government. Yesterday, Downing Street refuted allegations that the meeting between Mr. Biden and Mr. Sunak was “low-key” and subdued.
Mr. Heaton-Harris refuted claims that Mr. Sunak had “snubbed” the president, stating that the prime minister had attended “other private engagements” and that it was “a legitimate thing to do.”
