He has launched a charm offensive to try and get senior American politicians and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to intervene in the row on Dublin’s side.
The Irish leader is said to believe an endorsement by the US, which played a major role in the peace process, will heap pressure on MPs.
A Dublin source told the Irish Independent: “The US is hesitant to get in the middle but it’s a sleeping giant in terms of preventing a hard border.
“The Good Friday Agreement and peace in Ireland is one of the cornerstone achievements of US foreign policy. They’re watching every move.”
Deputy PM Simon Coveney is travelling to Washington next week to meet senior White House figures and House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Why would anyone negotiate with her now?
Democrat congressman Brendan Boyle has already warned if Britain reneges on the backstop it will impact on future trade talks with Washington.
He said: “After agreeing to the Irish backstop, Theresa May’s government has now reneged on it. Why would anyone negotiate with her now?”
Mr Varadkar has also secured the tacit support of the Canadian PM following a phone call between the pair on Wednesday night.
Afterwards Mr Trudeau’s spokesman said: “The two leaders discussed the implications for Ireland of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
“They agreed on the fundamental importance of protecting the Good Friday Agreement for the peace process in Northern Ireland, and recalled Canada’s role in achieving the agreement.”
The trans-Atlantic appeal came as EU member states doubled down on their support for Ireland’s position.
German justice minister Katarina Barley said Berlin would not relent on the need for the backstop.
She said: “The problem is we don’t see any other proposition by the British government.”
Some capitals are open to the idea of adding to or tweaking the Withdrawal Agreement, but only if the PM can prove it’ll seal a majority for the deal.
And Austria warned that the two sides are headed for a no deal scenario unless a “magic” solution emerges to break the impasse.
Foreign minister Karin Kneissl said: “In my view, there are lots of signs that indicate a hard Brexit. That is my estimation.”
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