Joe Biden has issued a stark warning to the British Government and the EU about the Northern Ireland border. Biden has categorically said it must remain open whatever the outcome of Brexit is. Biden has made it clear that a “guarded border” in Ireland will not work.
Speaking to the RTÉ yesterday as he announced his nominees for his Cabinet, Biden said “We want to make sure – we’ve worked too long to get Ireland worked out, and I talked with the British prime minister, I talked with the Taoiseach, I talked with others, I talked to the French”.
President-elect Biden also added “The idea of having a border north and south once again being closed is just not right, we’ve just got to keep the border open”.
When Joe Biden was declared the winner of the election, he had numerous conversations with many world leaders. When he spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he stressed the fact that Brexit cannot result in a border reinstated on the island of Ireland.
Biden has spoke about the border and the Good Friday Agreement on many occasions before. “We can’t allow the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland to become a casualty of Brexit”.
This is a clear contrast in policies between the President-elect and current President, Donald Trump. ‘America First’ has been the mantra carried out by Trump during his presidency. Biden’s stark warnings to world leaders about the border in Ireland is the complete opposite.
When announcing his nominees for roles such as the head of Department of Homeland Security, his national security advisor and secretary of state, Biden said “It is a team that reflects the fact that America is back, ready to lead the world, not retreat from it.” He went on to add “once again sit at the head of the table, ready to confront our adversaries and not reject our allies”.
Considering the fact that Boris Johnson’s top advisor Dominic Cummings was fired, hopeful comments from EU officials and the warning from Joe Biden, there is optimism that a Brexit deal can be reached and a border in Ireland can be avoided.
