In Ireland, a public debate has begun regarding the future security policy and neutrality of the country, taking into account the change in the geopolitical situation after the open attack of the Russian Federation on Ukraine.
This is reported by AFP.
Consultations will continue from Thursday to Tuesday next week. The impetus for them was Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine and the decision of Finland and Sweden to renounce their neutral status and join NATO.
Last week, President Michal Higgins, whose role in Ireland is more ceremonial, called the discussion of a potential departure from neutrality "playing with fire."
However, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar noted that the consultations do not have any "hidden agenda" and will simply cover a wide range of security issues.
"We are not going to join NATO or other military blocs, but we are going to invest in our armed forces," he commented.
More than 1,200 people have registered to take part in the discussion events, which will take place in Cork, Galway and Dublin. International security experts, representatives of analytical centers and public organizations will speak at the panel discussions.
In 2022, Ireland allocated about 1.1 billion euros for defense. In terms of spending, it lags significantly behind many European countries. Critics believe that the country relies too much on its neighbors for its security.
The Army of Ireland has about 8,500 men and was usually involved in various peacekeeping missions.
After the sabotage of Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in the fall of 2022 and the regular presence of Russian ships off the coast of Ireland, concerns have been raised about the safety of vital transatlantic cables passing through the area.
The latest opinion polls show that the majority of the country's population, 61%, continues to favor a neutral status. At the same time, 55% support a significant increase in defense investment.
In 2022, the government announced an increase in the defense budget to €1.5 billion in 2028, which would be the largest increase in defense funding in the country's history.
