US President Joe Biden is once again using Air Force One as a tool of diplomacy, this time to celebrate 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement bringing peace to Northern Ireland, flying to Belfast. Air Force One is once again allowing President Biden to bring his Irish-American charisma back to Northern Ireland plus Ireland and do the work that cannot always be done via videoconferencing.
Why did Air Force One fly to Ireland?
Air Force One with US President Biden is visiting Ireland partially to reconnect to the land of his heritage, with visits to County Louth, Ireland. But President Biden is also flying at a fragile time for Northern Ireland peace – a peace tested by Brexit, which has caused economic disruption.
As per an April 11, 2023, National Public Radio (NPR) report, one of the reasons for the trip is, in the words of Brendan O’Leary, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania;
“America is not trying to interfere in the management of the power sharing arrangements within Northern Ireland. But it is very clearly giving a signal that if those work, well, then there will be encouragement from the United States for foreign and direct investment.”
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In fact, President Biden, in public remarks, has made clear his primary purpose is to “keep the peace”. With Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party pulling out of power-sharing to protest free trade arrangements between Northern Ireland and Ireland, Northern Ireland’s National Assembly is dissolved. There have also been sadly recent acts of violence.
These themes are amplified by President Biden’s latest tweet:
Why must President Biden fly 104 miles?
Yes, the distance between Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Dublin, Ireland, is 104 miles by road. Or two hours, and 15 minutes by Enterprise train – and President Biden is fond of trains – linking the two cities. Yet, the decision was made that President Biden make the connection via Air Force One.
With the risk of terrorism at “Severe” in Northern Ireland, it’s best that President Biden, the leader of the United States of America, fly from Belfast to Dublin instead of accepting unnecessary risk. This is even though President Biden requires support vehicles like the VH-3D Sea King unloaded from a C-17 Globemaster III captured on YouTube here:
But doesn’t British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also fly?
The short answer is yes, even with plentiful ferries and commercial flights available, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was caught flying into Belfast also at 2:10 of the below YouTube video:
The same logic applies of needing to get a world leader to provide the personal touch that videoconferencing cannot. Plus keeping the world leader safe.
What are your thoughts? Please share with civility in the comments section.
Source: NPR