The summer is upon us. As we enter July, one country will dominate the headlines even more than it usually does: the United States of America. Celebrating its 249th birthday on July 4th this year, the return of Donald Trump as President has brought a growing number of economic and foreign policy issues, meaning this Independence Day will cause just as much reflection as it will celebration in the corridors of power in the UK and Ireland.
In Northern Ireland, our relationship with the United States is more integrated than in many other parts of Europe. In economic terms, the USA is our top foreign direct investor. In areas such as cybersecurity and the creative industries, we are a top destination for many American investors seeking to establish a foothold in the UK and the European Union. Walk around Belfast, and you can see the number of American-owned businesses whose logos are on top of many of the buildings in our city centre.
The relationship between Northern Ireland and the USA extends beyond a purely economic connection; there are also substantive political ties that bind us together. American politicians, such as Senator George Mitchell and former President Bill Clinton, have all made significant contributions to our peace process. The degree of American attention on Northern Ireland during the Brexit process and the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement is a testament to the depth of feeling that exists across the Atlantic Ocean.
Engage or Pull Back?
We have all of these fundamentals going for us, including the economic links and the emotional connection. The key question is how do we maximise this opportunity, and how should our local politicians navigate American politics in the age of Trump?
The choices often presented to politicians when dealing with Trump are as follows: engage or pull back.
In Northern Ireland, our Executive has dipped their toes into each of these options depending on which party you are dealing with. For the DUP and UUP, engagement has been the order of the day. For Sinn Féin and Alliance, pulling back has been their preferred option until now.
However, another course is in front of us if we are prepared to take it, and that is to reposition ourselves. This is the Mark Carney approach, which takes a pragmatic approach to engaging with the United States to improve the economic relationship where possible, while also deepening our ties with other allies around the world, such as the European Union.
Walk and Chew Gum…
Trumpian politics often offers binary solutions to complex problems. Still, the world is not like that, and Northern Ireland should not pretend that either being all in with Trump or pretending he does not exist are the only options open to us. We can walk and chew gum at the same time. Our Executive should engage when it is to our benefit, speak out when necessary and always play the long game.
Northern Ireland can recognise the many economic and political links it has with the United States, while also seeking new opportunities as the global order shifts around us. Countries like Canada are figuring out what this means for them in the long term, and we should not be behind the door in identifying opportunities for ourselves.
Big Anniversary…The Biggest.
The world is changing, and the United States' role will also change. Northern Ireland does not need to fear this or be a loser in this process. We can rise to the challenge of change. As we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, we can celebrate the deep connections we have with the United States and explore ways to strengthen connections with other parts of the world.