In the spring of 2023, the international community gathered together to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, a diplomatic triumph that resolved decades of conflict in Northern Ireland. The agreement put an end to significant sectarian violence by establishing a power-sharing system, and installing a commitment to political and social equality for all of the region’s inhabitants. However, Brexit and recent political events have significantly threatened the political stability established by the Good Friday Agreement, and have caused substantial socio-economic friction in the region. This friction has alarmed political leaders in Northern Ireland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and in the region’s strongest partner, the United States.

As evidenced by President Biden’s trip to the island of Ireland in early April 2023 and the appointment of Joe Kennedy, III as Special Envoy, the U.S. remains as committed as ever to Northern Ireland’s peace and stability.  The recent 25th anniversary celebratory events with its significant American participation serves as a reminder of the special relationship that the U.S. has with Northern Ireland and its people. As a New York based non-governmental organization, the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) upholds this commitment, and has been focused on peacebuilding initiatives in Northern Ireland since 2020. In March of this year, the organization held its own commemorative event, including a daylong conference titled Looking Back and Moving Forward: Celebrating 25 Years of the Good Friday Agreement, which recognized the monumental peace deal while creating a platform for political leaders and grassroots community members to share their concerns for the region.

In light of the momentum following these Good Friday Agreement anniversary events, the organization visited Northern Ireland in April 2023 to meet with political leaders and grassroots peacebuilding organizations and hear about their concerns in the post-Brexit political landscape. The following report lays out its findings, as well as policy recommendations for the U.S.-Ireland-U.K. relationship.

The NCAFP would like to thank the following organizations for supporting its work on Northern Ireland: Mutual of America, The Reconciliation Fund, The Ireland Funds, Invest Northern Ireland, and the Consulate General of Ireland in New York.