Irish leader opens new Irish Embassy next to the White House and pledges deeper US ties

Tánaiste (Deputy Leader) Simon Harris has opened Ireland’s new Embassy in the heart of Washington DC and used the occasion to underline the deepening political, historical and economic ties between Ireland and the United States.

In remarks delivered during his attendance at the UN High-Level Week in New York, he framed the embassy as a symbol of a shared past and future ambitions.

Speaking about the new diplomatic home, the Tánaiste Simon Harris said, “There is no greater sign of the importance of the Irish-US relationship than the opening of Ireland’s new Embassy, next to the White House, in the heart of Washington, DC.

"Our Embassy is a testament not just to the shared history between our two countries, but an expression of our aspiration and ambition for a bright future together. It reflects Ireland’s expanding footprint right across the United States, where we now have a network of eight Consulates General.”

The visit saw Mr Harris hold a bilateral meeting with United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and deliver the inaugural address at the US Chamber of Commerce speaker series "Investing in Partnership, Securing Prosperity". The Tánaiste said he looked forward to discussing ways “to protect and deepen our mutually beneficial economic relationship.”

As part of the trip, Ireland launched a new economic impact report mapping the country’s footprint across the United States - from trade and tourism to research partnerships and company operations.

The Tánaiste highlighted Ireland’s growing role in American investment: “Not only is the US investing in Ireland, but Ireland is investing in the US. We are now the 5th largest source of foreign direct investment in America. Across every region of the union, Irish companies have created 200,000 American jobs.”

Mr Harris said the report captures “the remarkable scale of Irish companies who have operations here,” noting he planned engagements with several of those firms while in Washington. He also signalled a strategic approach for the years ahead, announcing that officials have been tasked with developing a new Ireland–US strategy expected to be published in early 2026: “The future of Ireland’s relationship with the United States will be underpinned by a new strategy that I have tasked my officials with developing and which I expect to publish in early in 2026.”

Beyond economics, the Tánaiste reflected on shared history, pointing to Irish connections to the founding of the United States: “Ireland is proud to join the United States in celebrating and commemorating 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July, 1776. Three signatories of that historic document were born on the island of Ireland.”

During the visit Mr Harris also met with Daon, the Irish biometric identity firm, underscoring the high-tech and security dimensions of contemporary Ireland–US cooperation.