Britain’s Brexit Threats – America Responds

The British Government has been threatening to suspend the Irish Protocol, an agreement that prevents the imposition of a hard border across Ireland in the Brexit process.

These threats have reached a crescendo. It is widely believed that the British Government will move to suspend the agreement in the coming weeks.

This is opposed by the majority of political parties in the North, community and business leaders, the Irish Government, the EU, and importantly the advice of the US.

Yesterday, President Biden, met with the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyden in the White House. The British Governments threats to suspend the Irish Protocol were discussed. President Biden continues to call the agreement to be honored.

Following the meeting the Commission President said. "it is very important" that the protocol remains in place.

"They are the possibility to keep peace and stability on the island of Ireland," she said. "So we are willing, as a European Union, to show the utmost flexibility,..... but it is important to stick to what we have agreed and signed together."

President Biden was not alone in supporting the implementation of the Protocol

A delegation of Congress members traveled to the COP 26 meeting in Scotland. They used the opportunity to remind the British government of the bipartisan position of Congress.

The Statement read,

“The Northern Ireland Protocol was a significant achievement during the volatile Brexit process, and its full implementation is critical for ensuring Brexit doesn’t undermine decades of progress toward peace on the island of Ireland.

“In threatening to invoke Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the United Kingdom threatens to not only destabilize trade relations but also that hard-earned peace. We call on the UK to abandon this dangerous path, and to commit to implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol in full”

The statement was signed by Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, William R. Keating, Chair of the Europe, Energy, the Environment and Cyber Subcommittee, Earl Blumenauer, Chair of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, and Brendan Boyle, Chair of the European Union Caucus.

The message is simple honor your agreements. We will learn in the coming weeks if Britain is listening.