US President Joe Biden begins his four-day visit to Northern Ireland and Ireland. He will participate, among other things, in the commemoration of the Good Friday Agreement. Exactly 25 years have passed since the signing of the agreement to end the bloodshed in Northern Ireland on Monday.
But Northern Ireland is anything but quiet. For example, on the day of the commemoration there was a protest march in the border town of Londonderry, where pro-Irish nationalists (who are against the Good Friday Agreements, ed) threw, among other things, Molotov cocktails. “There is still considerable opposition to the Good Friday Agreement from Catholics who want to join Ireland,” says Peter de Waard, former Ireland correspondent for de Volkskrant. “And some splinter movements also use violence.”
De Waard therefore believes that violence was not deliberately avoided due to Biden’s visit. This means that attention is relatively easily drawn to Northern Ireland. However, it’s not entirely due to Biden’s visit, he thinks. “It actually happens every year at Easter, because then we commemorate the Catholic Easter uprising of 1916,” continues De Waard. “Then there are always protest marches. Even though only 300 people took part, so it wasn’t huge.’
New deal
Sentiment doesn’t look set to change any time soon, not even with the conclusion of the new border deal between Northern Ireland and the UK. Because where the majority in the Republic of Ireland would like Northern Ireland to unite, only a quarter of Northern Irish people seem to feel the same need for reunification. ‘On the other hand, the Irish have always said that any reunification shouldn’t cost too much money,’ continues De Waard. ‘If it costs too many billions – which is sometimes thought of in connection with the lack of industry in Northern Ireland – the Irish don’t want it, and then there is a minority who are in favor of membership. In this regard, they really think about their wallets.’
Biden
And President Biden may be able to play a role in that, De Waard knows. According to the former correspondent, Biden has a lot of influence, especially since former President Bill Clinton played a crucial role in closing the Good Friday Agreement.
“Biden has some authority”
Biden’s Irish roots are also a possible advantage, thinks De Waard. “He always presents himself as a son of Ireland and has Irish ancestors,” he says. “So he has some authority.”
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
