Ireland's Taoiseach Simon Harris is due to meet with US President Joe Biden at The White House next week to mark 100 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Harris accepted an invitation to meet Biden at the White House in October, the Department of the Taoiseach announced on September 24.
Ahead of his US visit, Harris indicated he won't "shy away from" potentially difficult topics - especially concerning the Middle East - with the outgoing President.
(The exact date of the Taoiseach's visit to the US hasn't been confirmed, with The Irish Times noting last week that "it is normal White House protocol to only publish presidential diaries a week at a time." However, Harris told the Irish Times on September 25 that his visit would be in "two weeks.")
“I’m proud of the diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States of America, and I believe the overwhelming majority of people in this country are too," Harris told reporters in Dublin on Wednesday, October 2, according to the PA.
“I’m also proud of the tradition of taoisigh and presidents being able to engage on issues too.
“But you also speak the truth to your friends. And Ireland’s never afraid to speak our view. And I’m not afraid of that either. We speak the truth. We speak up for our foreign policy.
“We have an independent foreign policy, and our independent foreign policy is very clear in relation to what should happen in the Middle East.”
Not long after becoming Taoiseach earlier this year, Harris announced in May that Ireland, in concert with Norway and Spain, would be formally recognizing Palestine as a state. Including Ireland, Norway, and Spain, 145 out of the 193 UN member states have now recognized a Palestinian state. The US is not among them.
Harris said on Wednesday that he has “absolutely no doubt” that the Biden administration, "led through the efforts of Secretary of State Antony Blinken," has been trying to bring about a ceasefire.
"I’ve no doubt the EU wants to see a ceasefire," Harris, who along with other Irish leaders has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, added.
"I can say all of that, though, and also say the next sentence – all of the efforts have been utterly ineffective to date, because we still don’t have a ceasefire.
“So all of us – big countries, small countries, Europe, the United States – need to now say ‘what more can we do to bring the world back from the brink?’
“Because this is an extraordinarily dangerous moment. So, of course, we continue to engage with the United States.
“Of course, we’re proud of the diplomatic links between the United States and Ireland, but we can also have, and do have, our own independent foreign policy, which we articulate at every possible opportunity.”
The Department of the Taoiseach confirmed that Harris had accepted Biden's invitation to the White House on the same day that Biden addressed the US General Assembly in New York City last week. Harris was in attendance for the President's remarks
Afterward, Harris said he welcomed the fact Biden referenced the need for a two-state solution to bring to an end the violence in the Middle East, the Irish Independent reports.
However, Harris said he would not interfere in another country’s foreign policy when he was asked about the US continuing to supply weapons to Israel.
“I wouldn't appreciate another country telling us our foreign policy or telling us how to proceed, but I know how hard President Biden has worked to try and bring about a ceasefire. I’ve spoken to him on the phone. I've seen how many times, Secretary Blinken has traveled to the region – an extraordinary number of times to have talks,” the Taoiseach said.
Indeed, Harris and Biden discussed the "need for an immediate ceasefire" in Gaza during a phone call in June. During the call, Biden also congratulated Harris on becoming Taoiseach in the wake of Leo Varadkar's resignation.
Varadkar announced his resignation in March less than a week after making headlines during his St. Patrick's Day engagements at the White House with President Biden. (In making the annual visit to the US this year, Varadkar defied Irish calls for a boycott due to the US response to the situation in Gaza.)
On March 15, in front of cameras in The White House, Biden agreed with Varadkar when the Taoiseach called for a ceasefire.
Varadkar told Biden: "You'll know, my view [is] that we need to have a ceasefire as soon as possible to get food and medicine in ..."
Biden interjected: "I agree."
Varadkar continued: "...and to get hostages out.
"We need to talk about how we can make that happen and move toward a two-state solution, which I think is the only way we will have lasting peace and security."
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