‘More important than ever’ that Northern Ireland engages with United States

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026 - 15:16

By Rebecca Black, Press Association

Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said it is “more important than ever” to engage with the United States.

Speaking ahead of the traditional visit to Washington DC for St Patrick’s Day celebrations, she described a unique opportunity for access, including to President Donald Trump.

On Sunday, First Minister Michelle O’Neill said she will take “international factors” into account when deciding whether to attend.

She did not attend the event last year in protest against the US role in Israel’s war in Gaza, and she said the situation has since “got even worse”.

The First Minister told Sky News she has not booked any flights to visit the White House.

Speaking in the Assembly on Monday, Ms Little-Pengelly spoke of deciding plans once invitations are received, but stressed the importance of engaging with the US.

“The US is the largest economy in the world. As our second-largest export market and our third largest source of imports it is a critical market for our economic development,” she told MLAs.

“Our relationship with the US is a long-standing one reflected in our ties to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, strengthened through the peace process and continuing today with major investments such as the Bank of America’s commitment of up to 1,000 jobs.

“The (Northern Ireland) Bureau will be hosting its annual St Patrick’s Day breakfast in partnership with Invest NI, Tourism Ireland, Queen’s University, Belfast and Ulster University to showcase the Executive’s priorities.

“We will decide our plans for St Patrick’s Day once we have confirmation of the full range of events, and indeed, invitations, scheduled to take place in Washington DC.”

She added: “It is incredibly important for us to engage.

“There are so many different events, so much access, not just in terms of key policymakers, to the president himself, but also to a range of businesses and other key influencers.

“It is probably the most unique of opportunities that I think any jurisdiction gets to have that level of access.

“At the moment there are a range of key decisions that are being made by the president of the United States that can have, and will have a direct impact on us in Northern Ireland, on our businesses in Northern Ireland, on the people of Northern Ireland, and as leaders throughout the globe are taking the opportunity to try and talk and engage with President Trump, and try to urge him way from things that may be detrimental.

“I think it is incredibly important, more important than ever, that we do engage, regardless of our personal views as to the politics of the holder of the office of president of the United States.”