Under US tarriffs announced by current imperialist-in-chief Trump, goods from the 26 counties will now face a 15% tariff and those from the 6 counties a 10% tariff. This discount for Britain’s occupation statelet in Ireland no doubt is an attempt to further entrench the partition and oppression of Ireland.
Even as the Trump administration pursue a protectionist shift, they are conscious to favour British imperialist interests in the 6 counties. Without delay, the imperialist mouthpiece that is the corporate media has spun this as an argument to maintain the illegal partition.
Anti-Imperialist Action Ireland affirms that this policy further evidences that the US, as the leading superpower in NATO, is a partner in imperialist rule in Ireland and a key backer of the occupation of 6 Irish counties.
As early as 1949, classified CIA documents declared that an end to the occupation would be unacceptable, that NATO military bases are required to protect their British and American allies. Other such bases exist today at NATO-occupied Shannon Airport and Aldergrove Airport.
American imperialism played a central role in brokering the Good Friday Surrender which copperfastened partition and attempted to normalise the puppet regime. Agents of this empire such as the Clintons have cosplayed as “peacemakers” for their part in this, even as their hands drip with the blood of criminal wars and fascistic regime change. Billions have been pumped into the 6 counties by the American capitalist cartels to further profiteer from the occupation.
The 26 counties too are exploited by these foreign multinationals for resources, cheaper labour than the western imperialist metropoles, and with imperialists vulture funds taking a controlling interest of Irish housing stock to charge exorbitant rents.
As international finance capital makes the island its playground, the cost of living for the Irish working class soars. Still unsatisfied, they would have Irish workers die in NATO’s wars too.
As such, the enemies of the Irish revolution are not only British imperialism and the comprador capitalist class, but also the forces of American imperialism and European imperialism. Capitalism especially in its highest stage of imperialism is a world system, the imperial powers dividing the world amongst themselves through contention and collusion.
The western powers collude against the oppressed nations through the military alliance NATO, and through other economic and political formations. Their presence will never be acceptable to revolutionary Socialist Republicans. To truly break the connection with Britain is break the connection with the whole capitalist-imperialist system. In the words of Comdt Liam Mellows, our fight “has been for something more than the fleshpots of Empire”.
We recognise that western imperialism will continue to collude in the partition and occupation of our land, to maintain Ireland as a dependent semi-colony and colony, knowing the threat a sovereign People’s Republic would pose to their interests.
Britain/NATO, get out of Ireland!
An Phoblacht Abú!