The UK shouldn't be surprised. In reality, the special relationship was always in the minds of the British, not the US.

As both an Irishman and an American (having spent time in both countries) the depth of the relationship between Ireland and the USA is something I think most non-Americans and non-Irish fail to understand. Irish populations organisations are present in every state and every major city, few ethnicities have that(perhaps only African Americans and Chinese Americans). 2 of the most prominent holidays in the USA (Halloween and St Patrick's day) originate in Ireland. Every city has societies that practice Irish art forms like Irish dancing and Irish traditional music. And of course even non Irish Americans identify with the Irish struggle for independence against the British due to how it mirrors their own national myths. The minute an American hears an Irish accent, the Irishman is guaranteed good hospitality in almost any corner of the country. From the Irish side, Irish people generally love America and it's culture (though it's taken some hits, especially during the Iraq war). Nowhere else in Europe is American culture, be it food, music, movies or TV, more prominent. Ireland is one of the only parts of Europe where you're more likely to find American style pizza than Italian style, and where you can buy a hamburger and fries in pretty much every town, even the smallest. Ireland is the hub for American businesses in Europe, almost every prominent American company you can think of is in Dublin or some other part of Ireland. It's this good will and trust between the two countries that enables such deep economic integration. Ireland may seem small and insignificant, and in many ways it is, but it has a great deal of soft power, and you can see that being flexed in this dispute over Brexit. When it comes to policy around Ireland, Americans don't necessarily act out of calculation like they would with other countries. Americans will be driven first and foremost by their romantic feelings about Ireland, which remain very strong. If a president betrayed Ireland, they'd have to reckon with every mother who's daughter is in an Irish dancing club, every Irish pub owner in every city would collect money for the cause. There are few Morris dancing societies that would do the same for England. The Irish Taoiseach is the only world leader who is guaranteed to meet the American president every year. There's a very good reason for that.

Brexit has been a disaster. I am glad that at least the Republic of Ireland is thriving and hope Northern Ireland will be OK.

There is no "impasse" in N.I. The DUP is frustrating democracy. They have taken a stance that is not tenable and for which no compromise can be found. The DUP has no choice but to accept the Windsor deal. Even if they were to start a new civil war, the outcome will be that they will either accept the Windsor deal, or see N.I. joining the RoI, which will be worse for the DUP. There is no going back to the situation before 2016, unless the English decide to undo Brexit. But the English can't be bothered by what the DUP wants.

As an American I can guarantee that despite our incipient civil war, the one thing we all do agree on is support for Ireland and will back Ireland unfailingly

It is irrational to support Brexit on the grounds of national self-interest, and then demand that the EU and the US act against their own interests for our benefit.

Breaking international law in limited and specific way didnt age well did it?

Obama warned the UK before the Brexit referendum that the US would give priority to its trade relationship with the much larger EU.

I was just in Dublin. Ireland is clearly corporate EU HQ for so many American companies especially tech companies. I work for a Dublin, Ireland based company.

And? What did the UK expect? Do a dumb thing,win dumb prizes.

Americans will always side with Ireland over the UK. We speak the same language as the UK, but we fought the same war as the Irish. ☘☘☘☘

Ireland is the greatest representative of how the UK Commonwealth treated their so called subjects in it’s greatest famine!

The GFA was one of the few USA politics moments that was accepted as a success by all sides in the USA. I guess they will do whatever necessary to protect it.

Talk about being put in your place...... The US President Biden, went to the North for half a day to meet with the uk Prime Minister and 3 days to meet with The Irish President, The Taoiseach, The Irish Parliament and the People of Ireland. 😀😀😀

If the UK wishes to indulge in a frenzy of self-harm, let them. The rest of us have to get on with our own future, as best we can. ☘

We all remember when President Obama said Brexit would put the UK "back of the queue" for trade talks. Biden was the Vice- President at that time and he didn't disagree...

The English used to make jokes about the Irish being 'thick'... Brexit one big sick English joke.

Two of the biggest holidays in states are. 1. Saint Patrick's day that we celebrate with huge parades from the smallest towns to the biggest cities and say "everyone is Irish" 2. Independence day that we celebrate with huge parades from the smallest towns to the biggest cities kicking the king of England out. LOL

Any trade deal is decided by the Congress in reality. However, Ireland has influence on both sides. So Trump could say what he wanted to say, but this was never going anywhere without protection for the GFA. That meant that the NI Protocol would have to be honoured. Ireland has shown that they are the real masters of soft power and not ourselves.

Anyone who has been to Ireland on the 4th of July or the USA on St Patrick's day you understand that unlike the UK that thinks it has special relationship, Ireland DOES HAVE.

Why are English people surprised by good Irish us relations?.

The reporter was desperately trying to find something positive for the GB. The answer was non no no, GB is not so important the EU is. Go figure, have you made a mistake? Maybe a very big one?

Irish American, dad born and bred in Limerick and I agree with this guy. I also work for an Irish company and spend a lot of time there business and pleasure. First off there is huge Irish stock in America and Irish have done a lot for America from American revolution to the civil war when over 100,000 fought for the union to building many of our cities and pivotal in the creation of unions. Second with the UK out of the EU, Ireland is natural replacement bridge. I see this all the time in my job with all the business connections.

Brexit is the gift that keeps on giving, as long as you are NOT british 😂😂😂

If this wasn’t clear to the brexiteers then that just adds to the tragedy. Brexit was a conscious act of self harm for absolutely no benefit. And it remains unfathomable to me.

The unionist’s and british will always be second in the queue behind the Irish in America, at least until the unionists realise they are Irish themselves.

I'm English. I can't explain in words how much Brexit annoys me.

America has long been an ally of Irish Republicanism and a United Ireland is inevitable now England has made the folly of Brexit.

I have not seen anyone else mention how much brexit was awful for the US in terms of strategic relations. The UK used to offer the English speaking world a perfect platform on which to engage with Europe/EU. By pursuing brexit, the UK has drastically diminished its power on the world stage and undermined the prior US plans to rely on the UK as the window into the EU. Obviously the UK can do as it likes, but shooting itself and its Allies in the foot is not exactly advisable or commendable. The US and UK relationship will remain strong because of our shared personal and cultural ties, but to the extent the UK is determined to destabilize the peace in Ireland the US will push back. As I would hope they would.

Britain was America's English speaking supporter in the EU, with Brexit it no longer is, its the Republic of Ireland.

Cead mile failte big Joe. Dia is muire duit cara 🕊️🇮🇪🇺🇲

Why wouldn't they? EU are huge market. This isn't a them or us situation because US can still set up trade with UK 😊

I sincerely hope the relations between Ireland and the UK, will improve in 2024. The British government has done a lot of damage to the Good Friday agreement, which is so sad. The world needs peace like never before. 🕊

If someone breaks the law would you complain that the police are taking sides when they arrest the criminal? The USA is a legal guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. Therefore they are legally obliged to do whatever they can to maintain the Good Friday Agreement. They're the policeman in this case. The UK is doing everything it can to break a legally binding agreement therefore the USA is legally obliged to side with the Ireland and the EU. It's part of their job description. All for a tiny group of people in Northern Ireland who are triggered if they can't buy the right brand of sausages.

The UK was a bridge between the USA and Europe, now they've thrown that unique position away and Ireland have taken that role. I think this commentator underestimates Britain's ability to complete trade deals quickly, they just offer the other side everything in return for nothing and this brings about a rapid conclusion.

We need to get along 🇺🇸 🇮🇪 🇬🇧 🇪🇺

What the British will never understand is that Britain might have a special relationship, but the Irish and Americans are family!

There is only two countries that have a special relationship with US. It is Ireland and Israel. Uk had a poodle relationship with US from Suez and forward. Even this relationship has ended now when US let it be known that the uk armed forces is too small to be considered relevant or even desireable.

Well, despite the fact that the majority in Northern Ireland voted for Sinn Fein, who are happy with the Brexit deal, Downing Street is siding with the MINORITY DUP.

"I'd like a unicorn for Christmas" 😂😂

Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong for the British regarding Brexit. The British thought the EU would do what Britain had historically done when it came to its dealings with Ireland - they would simply ignore them. The British thought that the EU would do the same by brushing aside Ireland's concerns over the Good Friday Agreement in favor of a trade deal with the UK, but that didn't happen. I believe it was at that point that Britain realized that the Irish were no longer the weaker side when it came to its negotiations with the UK, Ireland now had the entire EU on it's side of the table and that there would be no Withdrawal Agreement signed unless the Irish were satisfied that there would be no hard border on the Island of Ireland. The Irish position was supported by the EU. Furthermore the United States made it known that they would not begin talks with the UK on a trade deal if the Good Friday Agreement was not honored by the British in its entirety. That realization must have been a very bitter pill for the British to swallow. Suddenly Ireland had more influence in the EU than Britain had, and they also had the support of a pro-Irish United States. In an effort to try and counter that reality, the British then set about trying to bypass the EU negotiators by lobbying individual EU states into supporting the UK - This attempt to divide and rule didn't work either. The EU was going to act as a single entity as far as Brexit was concerned. All the talk of having the EU over a barrel, and the "They need us more than we need them" nonsense was exposed as the negotiations moved on. Even Boris Johnson's threat to leave the EU without a trade deal fell flat on its face when Johnson signed the Withdrawal Agreement at the last minute - his bluff having been called by the EU. Of course Johnson decided he'd ignore the Northern Ireland protocol part of the agreement by hilariously claiming he hadn't read the text of the Agreement and would never have signed it if he had - which of course was a lie and a weak attempt meant to appease the Unionist DUP who claimed he had stabbed them in the back. Brexit has been a nightmare with no end in sight. It has severely limited its citizens rights to work, live and retire in the EU and it has damaged the country's standing in the world because it is no longer trusted to uphold its international agreements. Businesses have abandoned the UK and prices for everyday goods have increased to the point where it's causing severe problems for people on limited incomes. The financial sector is abandoning London in favor of Dublin and Frankfurt taking their taxable income with them. All is not lost though but it will take political stability and a change of direction if the UK is to weather this storm.

Another thing to consider is that Catholics in America generally side with Ireland as well because they also faced discrimination from Anglos and you see a lot of intermarriage like between Irish & Italians, Irish & Mexicans, Polish, etc. As to the EU probably more than half of Americans have ancestry to one or more EU nation including many that qualify for citizenship through decent.

The UK got into the EEC, and then the EU, at a time when it was in a strong bargaining position, and that resulted in an optimal arrangement for it to be the economic bridge between the EU and the US. Brexit put the UK outside that arrangement, and it no longer has the economic clout to negotiate anything comparable on its own.

This was pretty expected, but I think this is the first time that many Brits realise how Brexit has changed how the world is viewing them.

Possible solution is for England to cede from the union. Thereby resolving the Scottish independence question and placing the question of union back to the citizens of Northern Ireland. Brexit was really a vote for English nationalism and will only work for them if England is outside the union. A new relationship is required between the nations of these islands.

The Irish Question, an issue so old, A puzzle unsolved, a story untold. Centuries of struggle, pain, and strife, Marked by a quest for freedom and life. From oppression to revolution, the path was long, The fight for justice, the people's song. A history of conflict, loss, and grief, The Irish Question, a wound so deep. Partition and violence, a country divided, The search for peace, many have tried it. But the scars remain, the pain endures, The Irish Question, still seeking cures. Amidst the turmoil, the hope prevails, For a future where harmony prevails. A nation united, a people free, The Irish Question, finally put to sleep. Signed GP4

If there is a trade deal it will be in the interests of 🇺🇸 and they will sign one with the 🇪🇺 but never with us.

A history of alliance. Roosevelt-Churchill; Reagan-Thatcher; Bush-Blair; Biden-EU.

It’s time the U.K. ended this one sided ‘special relationship’ with America.

Fair. In the post-Brexit madness, "Great" Britain only has a special relationship with itself. One of the 48%.

I support almost anything that reunifies Ireland and _finally_ ends the UK. We need to end this English imperialist nightmare that has caused nothing but hardship everywhere it's had influence.

There's a significant portion of the UK that never supported Brexit, and an increasing portion that regret voting for it. Never forgive or forget the charlatans and the traitors that campaigned for it.

06:39 Onto Ireland… I am Irish, I have an Irish passport and I live in the North of Ireland. Suggest you look at an atlas… Colonial mindset is hard to shake off I suppose.

The brexiteer meltdown in the comments are hilarious. So much for that "special relationship" and the US trade deal. I recall someone saying the UK would be at the back of the queue... Guess he was right. Have a good cry little englanders. You won, right? You should get over it. Aww the comedy. Thanks for brexit to all of you.

Biden seems to self-identify as Irish.

Still waiting for these Brexit benefits , selling to the Pacific hasn't flaoted my boat yet

We are a band of brothers, and native to the soil... fighting for our liberty with treasure, blood, and toil... Hurrah, Hurrah, for Irish rights hurrah!

Feels like this special relationship that keeps being mentioned is more and more turning out to be alongside the US-Irish axis. Perhaps the British had some basis to lean on in the past but its turning quite fragile.

It’s a fact that little englanders can’t get their head round. Simply since the uk left the EU the American access to the EU no longer via the uk

There will be no peace in Northern Ireland until the English realise that Ulster does not belong to England. The Troubles were started in 1968 by the Unionists inc the RUC, backed the British government. These were the terrorists. How many died and how many Catholic homes fire bombed? All because English wanted to retain Ulster/Six Counties. Reminds me of an early Putin movie. As for Scotland, the same goes. Scotland is not a colony of England. It is a supposed equal partner in a son called voluntary union but is not allowed to leave. That sounds like the End of Empire again....with the same violent ending.

Biden’s unspoken message: Know your place Brexit Britain

The economic and political reality of the US siding with Europe/Ireland on this issue is self evident. However, most people over in Europe don’t seem to understand the secondary issue which affords Ireland the support of the Americans and that is the notion that the average citizen of the US views themselves as underdogs and thus identify with Ireland which they view as possibly the quintessential underdog. As such, The Americans might have a grudging respect for the UK but in the end, they feel a kinship with the Irish, their perceived fellow “underdogs”

All this hard medicine we have to take will be good for us in the end. The UK needs to redefine itself on the world stage. Leaving the EU was madness.

US/Irish trade has been replacing UK/US trade for about 6 or 7 years now. look at the published figures, if you're interested here they are - Ireland recorded $98 billion in trade with the United States, The U.S. goods and services trade with United Kingdom was $21.8 billion in 2019

the US will always side with Ireland, and has done since the famine (Ironically), it really sticks in the craw of the brits

Scotland sides with the Republic of Ireland as well, and we will join them as the new Republic of Scotland soon as we divorce England to join the EU.

N ireland is Ireland.

Brexit, oh Brexit, what have you done? You've split a nation, and the damage has begun. A decision made, with no thought of the cost, Now the future seems uncertain, and the line has been crossed. The world looks on, in disbelief and shame, As Britain turns its back, on the European game. Trade deals are lost, and relationships strained, The freedom we sought, has left us in pain. The promise of a brighter future, now seems so far away, The reality of the situation, dawns on us each day. The economy suffers, as businesses move away, Jobs are lost, and prices rise, in a price we must pay. Brexit, oh Brexit, what have you achieved? The answer is simple, and hard to believe. A nation divided, and a future unclear, Brexit, oh Brexit, what did we hold so dear? This was written by GP4 chat using one word...Brexit.!

what good is a totally cut-off and no-influence Britain to the US?

Obama said we will go to the back of the queue and he meant it.

That’s a really good interview, this guy said some things about the US British relationship and how it’s changed. Especially the Americans seeing Ireland as a bridge to the EU.

Apart from tax avoidance for billionaires, and the ability for an authoritarian government to remove our rights and freedoms - Brexit isn't going very well, is it?

The government has really made things more difficult for its citizens and we can't sit back and bear all the consequences of the bad governance. it's obvious we are headed for hyperinflation,it is always the poor who take the hit.

There has been no special relationship, it Is just fantasy.

It’s reality check for the uk

Another key aspect the UK neglected is that Ireland itself is in a far stronger economic position nowadays. Even after their bubble burst the country was left with a far more developed telecommunications infrastructure, meaning among other things they can provide a viable alternative as the English-speaking US connection to the EU.

There has never been a special relationship.....the US does what it wants.....end of.

U.S influence is rapidly receding worldwide including Europe, and it can't do much useful today in Ireland even if it wanted to. Biden's administration was well known to be very pro Irish and anti British but Biden looks weak when you see how poor his relationships are with traditional American post war allies such as Saudi Arabia and the UK. That's on the USA, not because of the UK's democratic decisions. Much of the United Kingdom has been disillusioned with the USA since going to war with the USA over Iraq on the basis quite frankly of the Labour government trying to please the USA and keep best relations. Those days are OVER. It is no longer considered acceptable or politically savvy to go out on a limb for the whims of the White House. The relationship has been fundamentally weakened since then and we saw that landmark in 2013 when Cameron was defeated on the Syrian military intervention vote. The USA likes to think it doesn't need strong allies but the truth is if Cameron had won the Syria vote Obama would have gotten the USA more invested in Syria and intervened. It was genuinely that defeat according to Obama staffers that caused the USA to hesitate seeing it had weak support in London. So it won't be the UK going more than halfway in trying to restore this relationship, there will need to be a mutual meet in the middle. I am quite sure in time the understanding will improve, but it'll be when Biden is long gone.

The English have never come to terms with the atrocities they carried out in Ireland which led to the famine and rebellion. They think the Irish forced to immigrate to America just forgot about it all , they didn’t.

So everyone is taking notice of some old geezer who half the time has no idea where he is or what he's doing.

Nothing surprising here. Everybody knows who's to blame for political unrest in NI.

UK isn’t special. LOL

So much for a bilateral trade deal!

And with germany, and with poland, about equally likely with italy or the uk.

Brexit has inflicted a lot of damage on the UK

the Brits also don't realize we have 40+ million Irish Americans in the US . That's more than on the island of Ireland. Most Irish people have family in America and we have always been very close. Brexit is the nail in the English empire's coffin. They just have to be told time and time again until it sticks.

I’d still rather be free of the EU. I don’t care about what the US want or don’t want. As for Ireland they are welcome to it.

Nice to hear the Unicorn meme understood in conventional academic circles.

The only value Britain had to the USA was their strong voice in the EU, now that Britain is out of the EU there's no real value in that relationship

Obama and Biden both said after the Brexit vote that we could kiss the ‘special relationship’ was done; Well that is until they need back up in their next war!

3:05 I can't believe she said that 😮😮😮

5 eyes, NATO and European security, UN security council ally, most recently the new AUKUS.. Think there's still a fairly strong relationship there.. Even if economic influence with EU has gone.

I do not think anyone in Ireland thinks we have a "special relationship" with the USA. A strong relationship exists based on historical ties where the interests of both parties can be promoted and this is expressed politically, diplomatically and economically but it is not a "special relationship" of elevation to which other groups cannot aspire. It is a good relationship which works well because both parties understand exactly the nature of it.

Let's face it, the US-EU relationship is much more valuable and volatile, than its relationship with the UK. The UK must accept and take whatever deal they get with the US....The UK does have and will have an even closer relationship with the US, but make no mistake, the US is the Senior member in this relationship and the UK must toe the line with whatever the US says.... Brexit was not only a huge joke for the UK, but a nice win for the US from prying the UK away from the EU. Either way, the UK in the EU where the US had undue influence within that organization, or outside the EU where the UK is fast becoming nothing more than a US vassal with a nicely integrated Navy and military that still surprisingly punches above its weight....You might as well start flying the stars and stripes over Westminster...lol...

Brexit.....you couldn't make it up!

the US will always side with Ireland day in day out, brexit or full EU member :) the yanks will always side with the Irish..... why you say???? its simple, they love us :):)

The solution: Northern Ireland becomes the 51st state of the US.

Ireland Is Americanised now ...... multinationals everywhere

In that case them UK won't back USA as we've done on every occasion. F!@$ em

Ultimately, sure.. the eu is a potentially more productive relationship in terms of GDP as its larger.. HOWEVER, it is not one country and it is not always as pro US as UK has been for a long time.. meaning... the eu are less likely than the UK to follow or back America under as many circumstances as the UK. The UK as a perm member of security council.. a nuclear power.. a major nato member and a top tier intel and military partner.. thats a bad apple cart to upset in the long term.. Reagan understood it..