Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has stated that Micheál Martin will face a “tough job” during his visit to Washington for St. Patrick’s Day, noting that he will have to “walk a tightrope” when meeting the US president, reports RTE.
Martin is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on March 17, after accepting an invitation from the president last month, reports RTE.
Varadkar, the former Fine Gael leader, emphasized that the visit to the Oval Office is not merely a photo opportunity. It also serves as a platform for “soft power,” providing Ireland an opportunity to promote its interests and make its voice heard on the global stage.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Brendan O’Connor show, Varadkar explained: “He doesn’t want to say or do anything that could harm Ireland, and that’s his responsibility as Taoiseach. But Irish people will likely expect him to take the chance to speak out on important issues,” reports RTE.
Varadkar also pointed out that other Western leaders have voiced criticism of the Trump administration. He suggested that Martin would have two key moments to raise issues: one during his meeting in the Oval Office and another at the Shamrock Ceremony—a longstanding tradition since 1952, where the Taoiseach presents the US president with a bowl of shamrocks.
According to Varadkar, the Shamrock Ceremony is more “scripted” and a “safer environment” for making remarks. He also expressed his belief that the transatlantic relationship has been permanently altered and will not return to its former state, even if a traditional Republican or liberal Democrat takes office in three years, reports RTE.
“There will always be concerns among Europeans that America might shift direction again,” he said. “This highlights the need for the EU to strengthen its foreign policy capabilities.”
At a Cork Chamber event last month, Martin had discussed the importance of economic ties between Ireland and the US, stressing the value of open dialogue between the two nations, reports RTE.
Last year, during a similar meeting, President Trump had described it as a “great honor” to host the Taoiseach, highlighting the “tremendous business relationships” between the two countries that would “only get stronger.”
Varadkar also expressed his opinion that the US and Israel should accept any refugees fleeing conflicts in Iran and the broader Middle East. However, he questioned whether it would be feasible for Europe to refuse refugees under international law, suggesting that the countries involved in starting the wars should bear the responsibility, reports RTE.
“The countries that started the war should take them in,” he said, also advocating for Israel and the US to fund the reconstruction efforts. He warned that it is difficult to see a positive resolution to the war.
“We’ve seen this scenario before in Iraq and Syria, where those countries fractured along ethnic lines, leading to civil wars, terrorism, and significant migration flows to Europe,” Varadkar said, reports RTE.
Describing the war as having “no clear reason” or “clear objectives,” he expressed doubt that the Iranian regime would surrender. His biggest concern, he said, was the potential for a total breakdown in the region, akin to what happened in Syria.
During a recent trip to the US, Varadkar had spoken to several Iranian graduate students, noting their desire for the regime to fall but their lack of faith in US intervention to bring about change. He said many fear that any change in leadership would simply replace one autocratic ruler with another, and that Iran could ultimately experience a civil war similar to what happened in Libya, Syria, and Iraq, reports RTE.
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