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The writer is a former special American envoy to Northern Ireland
Everyone is Irish on the day of Saint-Patrick. Or it’s saying. Donald Trump, like all other American presidents from Ronald Reagan, invited the leaders of the Irish government to mark the celebration of the Oval office. Mutual toasts and the ritual presentation of a bowl of clovers are a symbol of American engagement – politically, culturally and economically – with Ireland. While the Trump administration strikes a break on the long American partnership with Europe on mutual security and trade, there is no better proof of the mutual benefits of the pursuit of this relationship than the transformation of Northern Ireland.
From 1968 to 1998, more than 3,500 people died and around 50,000 were injured as the sectarian conflict known as unrest raged across Northern Ireland. President Bill Clinton has appointed former senator George Mitchell as a special envoy in 1995 to find common ground between trade unionists and nationalists and to attract American investments to offer economic opportunities and reduce tensions between communities.
During countless hours of listening, cajoleur and push, Mitchell, with other civil servants, helped enemies under the oath to see a different path to follow. This led to the Friday 1998 Friday agreement. More than 71% of referendum voters in Northern Ireland supported it, as are more than 94% in the Republic.
Of course, the problems do not end with a peace agreement. Fortunately, the American commitment does not have it either. Each following administration, on a bipartite basis, appointed a special envoy to rely on the agreement, demilitarize paramilitary groups, meet the challenges of the police and promote economic growth. I hope that President Trump appoints his own envoy soon.
This commitment is important. Today, more than 1,500 international companies, including more than 280 based in the United States, are present in Northern Ireland. The region is a advanced investment destination for American cybersecurity companies and a major center for the screen industry with superproductions Game of Thrones. The trade agreement between London and Brussels will be advantageous for advanced manufacturing companies in search of access to the rationalized market for exports from the United States and others. Unemployment is 1.6%. With the Belfast legislature after a 24 -month interruption, the puzzle parts are finally in place.
However, the largest realization in Northern Ireland – the gradual reduction of conflicts based on identity policy – cannot be measured by economic indications alone. It reflects the power of commitment.
America has always provided a public and private meeting field to political and community leaders on both sides of the fracture. Meanwhile, cooperation in politics and business has contributed to promoting cooperation in the field – a precious lesson in our own polarized political ecosphere.
The old guard of the management of Northern Ireland has given way to a new generation. The Northern Ireland Assembly is now led by two women, Michelle O’Neill de Sinn Féin and Emma Little-Pengelly du Dup. Their elevation led to a change in notable in political discourse. Each leader makes an intentional effort to express that the future of Northern Ireland is large enough to adapt to differences. Tolerance accelerates the path of prosperity.
Northern Ireland is today a safer, stronger and more prosperous place due to the coherent and persistent bipartisan commitment of the American government and because the American commercial and university leaders have reached the Atlantic to support peace.
Today, during a period of engagement flickering in inter-Atlantic cooperation to ensure peace, security and economic growth in Europe, we must think about the lessons of our unfinished work in Northern Ireland.
