In honour of St Patrick, here’s a word from the Irish language that has wheeled itself into English as spoken in Ireland: (pronounced plaugh mause). There is no exact equivalent in English, but it means strategic flattery, buffering someone’s ego with one’s own interest firmly in mind. With a super ego back in charge of the world’s superpower, has become an international diplomatic default.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent visit to the US was a highlight of his so far chequered leadership. A golden, Charlie Bucket envelope for Trump from King Charles, inviting him back for an “unprecedented” second state visit, did the trick. Safely back in London, Starmer could give warm consolatory hugs to the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky a few days later.
Politically, affords the Irish government an opportunity to exert its soft power around the globe, a chance to connect with the 70 million strong Irish diaspora. Senior government ministers hightail it around the world, including to Australia. The highlight is in Washington where, in long-established custom, the taoiseach [prime minister], currently Micheal Martin, presents a bowl of shamrock to the US president.
The March visit affords access to the White House unmatched by any other country Ireland’s size. This year, however, there was much trepidation and nervousness in Ireland before the visit, even speculation that the White House invitation would not be forthcoming. Ireland, for all its historical an.
