It was revealed that Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness as First Minister and deputy First Minister in November had extended a formal invitation to Donald Trump to visit Northern Ireland following his election as US President. Whilst the UUP confirmed this week that they agreed with this approach, the SDLP did not; party leader Colum Eastwood described it as “astounding”. The Alliance Party MLa Stewart Dickson said it was “premature”. Later, in a statement Sinn Féin’s leader in the North Michelle O’Neill said that an invitation to Mr Trump was no longer appropriate.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire ruled out the prospect of Northern Ireland having special status after Brexit, saying it would be the “wrong approach”. Both Sinn Féin and the SDLP, who favoured a Remain vote in last June’s referendum, have called for special status. The DUP MP Sammy Wilson, who campaigned in favour of Brexit, said “all parts of the UK should leave the EU on an equal basis”. Later, the UK Parliament passed a bill authorising Prime Minister to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty by her deadline of 31 March, which will begin the formal process for leaving the EU.

European Council President Donald Tusk warned 27 European leaders that US President Trump’s “worrying declarations” rank among the challenges facing the European Union. In a letter sent ahead of this week’s Malta summit, he said the Trump administration puts into question the previous 70 years of American foreign policy. Other external threats cited were an assertive China, an aggressive Russia and radical Islam. He wrote “We cannot surrender to those who want to weaken or invalidate the Transatlantic bond, without which global order and peace cannot survive.”

The Romanian government pledged to withdraw an act that would have decriminalised certain corruption offences. Thousands of protesters took to the streets throughout the week to protest against the decree which would have released convicted officials from prison. Announcing the u-turn, Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said “I do not want to divide Romania. It can’t be divided in two.” The EU had also warned Romania against undoing its progress against corruption.

A ruling by a US federal Judge brought about a temporary halt to US President Trump’s travel ban on people from seven majority Muslim countries. Mr Trump vowed to restore the ban, describing the ruling as “ridiculous”, but a US federal appeals court rejected his administration’s request. At the time of writing, the travel ban remains suspended and will continue to be so until the full case has been heard.