This is a short review of the Ireland-United States relationship. Based on the conceptual note, we view their relationship through a four-fold framework comprising confrontation, cooperation, dependency, and independence. To understand these dimensions, we conducted a preliminary enquiry into the following key indicators: political, economic, military, and cultural ties. Our initial analysis suggests that cooperation is the dominant theme in their bilateral relations. The rationale for this conclusion has been elaborated in the following paragraphs, which provide insights into the aforementioned indicators.
Political Ties
“Proud” of its “unique and enduring relationship” (Government of Ireland, 2024), Ireland has traditionally maintained strong diplomatic engagement with Washington, often serving as a bridge between Europe and the U.S. The two countries also cooperate within multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), where they often align on development goals. Barring a few exceptions – for example, Ireland calling on EU and global partners, including the U.S., to demonstrate greater political will in holding Russia accountable for its actions in Ukraine and beyond (The Irish Times, 2025) – there is no known record of hostile statements by senior politicians from either side. These factors reflect the cooperative nature of their bilateral relationship.
Economic Ties
Accordingly, Ireland is considered one of the largest recipients of U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Europe, with over 900 U.S. companies operating in the country, supporting nearly 200,000 jobs (Oxford Political Review, 2024). Additionally, American firms, particularly in the technology and pharmaceutical sectors, such as Apple, Google, and Pfizer, have made Ireland a hub for their European operations. A key reason for this is Ireland’s competitive corporate tax regime and skilled English-speaking workforce.
Similarly, Irish investment in the United States is significant, with companies like CRH and Kerry Group contributing to local economies across multiple states. While this interdependence might be interpreted as a sign of economic dependency, the reciprocal nature of trade and the absence of coercive economic conditions (for example, Ireland did not feature on the list of countries facing reciprocal taxes under the Trump administration in 2025) indicate that cooperation remains the dominant characteristic of their economic ties.
- Military Ties
Ireland is a militarily neutral country and a vocal advocate for nuclear disarmament (ICAN, 2017). This position limits its direct engagement with the U.S. in formal defence alliances such as NATO. However, there are several examples of practical cooperation between the two countries in areas such as peacekeeping training, cybersecurity, and the use of Irish airspace by U.S. military aircraft transiting to and from Europe and the Middle East. However, the use of Shannon Airport by the U.S. military has been a subject of domestic debate in Ireland, such as some calling to prevent the U.S. use of the airport to “supply military equipment to Israel” (McQuinn, 2023, n.p.). This illustrates a nuanced form of military engagement and supports the view that the relationship is marked by pragmatic cooperation.
Cultural Ties
The two countries share a longstanding cultural relationship. According to one report, over 31 million people living in the U.S. claim Irish ancestry (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020), which is nearly 10% of the American population. The Irish diaspora has played an important role in shaping American political, cultural, and social life, from the presidency of John F. Kennedy to the widespread celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in cities like New York.
These cultural linkages are not just expressions of mutual soft power but also enduring people-to-people connections that transcend governmental or formal ties.
Dependency and Independence
While there are elements of dependency – particularly in the economic domain, due to Ireland’s reliance on American multinationals – it does not exhibit the classic features of economic subordination, as outlined in the conceptual note. For instance, Ireland maintains an autonomous foreign policy on several matters, including its consistent support for Palestinian rights, which diverges from U.S. policy. Another example is Ireland’s endorsement of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which the U.S. has not supported. These instances underscore a degree of policy independence within an otherwise cooperative framework.
Conclusion
Based on the four-fold classification of international relations – confrontation, cooperation, dependency, and independence – we conclude that the Ireland–United States relationship is best characterised by cooperation. This is supported by strong political dialogue, economic reciprocity, pragmatic military coordination, and robust cultural ties. While aspects of dependency and independence are present, they are neither predominant nor definitive.
References
Government of Ireland. (2024). Ireland’s centenary programme in the USA. Ireland.ie. https://www.ireland.ie/en/usa/centenary/
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. (2017, July 7). Ireland. ICAN. https://www.icanw.org/ireland
McQuinn, C. (2023, November 19). Shannon Airport not being used by US to supply military equipment to Israel – Varadkar. The Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/11/19/shannon-airport-not-being-used-by-us-to-supply-military-equipment-to-israel-varadkar/ Accessed 26/4/2025
O’Dwyer, M. (2021, June 1). Ireland’s neutrality and U.S. military use of Shannon Airport. The Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ireland-s-neutrality-and-us-military-use-of-shannon-airport-1.4575432
Oxford Political Review. (2024, December 21). Ireland and the U.S.: A growing special geoeconomic relationship worthy of protection. https://oxfordpoliticalreview.com/2024/12/21/ireland-and-the-us-a-growing-special-geoeconomic-relationship-worthy-of-protection/
The Irish Times. (2025, February 27). Europe must show ‘political will’ to hold Russia to account, Dublin conference told. https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2025/02/27/europe-must-show-political-will-to-hold-russia-to-account-dublin-conference-told/
U.S. Census Bureau. (2020). American Community Survey: Ancestry. https://data.census.gov/