Press headlines in Washington on Patrick’s Day 2026 were carrying the news that Joe Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Centre, and once a staunch MAGA supporter, had resigned. What was really surprising, though, was his reason for quitting. Kent wrote on Twitter that he couldn’t continue because he believed Trump’s assault on Iran was unnecessary, saying that Tehran posed “… no immediate threat to our nation…” adding that the conflict was launched “… due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby…”.
Not that such a trenchant criticism — and indeed exposé — of the USA’s blood-soaked campaign of conquest in the Middle East was having any impact on the Irish delegation to the White House.
While America’s imperial master was absorbing the news that a one-time devotee (along with several other leading MAGA supporters) was causing a headache for the regime, his ego was being massaged by a kowtowing Micheál Martin, sliding in to present Trump with a bowl of shamrock.
Amazingly, this crawling performance from the Taoiseach was reported by the Irish mass media as a successful day’s work. Not only had the Fianna Fáil leader apparently managed to avoid antagonising the emperor but had even contrived to speak up for Britain’s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.
All of which missed the very real point that the photos of a simpering Martin alongside Donald Trump were effectively dismissing the murderous behaviour of US imperialism’s frontman. Ireland’s premier was greenwashing a cruel monster who had facilitated, if not actually supervised, genocide in Gaza, ordered an illegal and unprovoked attack on Iran that began with the massacre of 168 schoolgirls, and had ordered a savage blockade of the small Caribbean island that is Cuba.
In order to counter criticism of this revolting pandering in the White House, the coalition government promoted the excuse that the Republic is economically dependent on the goodwill of Trump. To antagonise the tanned autocrat, they said, would risk endangering US investment in the 26 Counties.
Notwithstanding the fact that acquiescing in this charade is morally repugnant, the reasoning underpinning the decision to “cuddle up” with the US empire is flawed — and dangerously so.
In the first instance, it is widely accepted, even by free-market economists, that the Republic’s government should be seeking to diversify the economy away from its over-dependency on a few US multinational companies. Last month a study¹ delivered by Professor Alan Ahearne of UCG stated that this degree of reliance was “… a structural vulnerability of the Irish economy which public policy should seek to address.”
The reason Micheál Martin and his coalition cronies refuse to instigate a different economic policy is not due to being unaware of the need to do so. Their motivation arises from a determination to preserve the current class structures. Not antagonising Trump also extends to endorsing the US model of capitalism with its rule by the wealthy privileged few.
By the same token, the warm words for Keir Starmer (and Winston Churchill!) were designed to embed still further the southern Irish state within the imperialist sphere. To achieve this end the old Empire, on which the sun has now set, was recently invited to send its navy back into the Republic’s territorial waters.
Last month the Financial Times reported² that during a meeting in Cork, Martin and Starmer agreed a “defence and security pact” which would, in a statement issued later from Downing Street, mean that “… both countries have … committed to completing a series of joint exercises…”. The article continued by saying that the Irish government has recently unveiled a maritime security strategy involving working closely with the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, composed of ten NATO members.
Taken together, we have a situation whereby the government in Dublin is seen to have a servile relationship with US imperialism and its despotic president. Any doubts about the nature of the connection are set aside by the granting of Shannon Airport for use by the American military.
When this fact is considered in tandem with the Irish state joining a NATO expeditionary force led by Britain, it is not remotely credible to claim the country is neutral. In reality it has to be accepted that the 26 Counties is a participant in the imperialist world order and is, moreover, seen to be so. The implications of such a stance are obvious. In the event of a global conflict, Ireland is a target. And all this done to maintain an economic system that preserves existing class structures and the privilege it provides for the few.
For the sake of decency and for the protection of the people it is imperative that we remove the current ruling class and its capitalist programme and, in its place, establish a Workers’ Republic.
