There is now a very real prospect of a hot war between Hezbollah and Israel, involving ground troops. What is the Irish mission, in that context?
Defence has become a top priority for many European nations, while it has dropped out of the political conversation here altogether.
Modern warfare is not about land, but about infrastructure. Ireland houses infrastructure that is vital to both our own interests, and, whether we like it, those of Europe and NATO.
Entered into the agreement with NATO
In terms of aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the war, the USA has contributed more in both dollar amounts and military equipment than the EU as a whole.
It is, one supposes, possible that misogynistic news-editors have deleted footage of the many thousands of the front-line women soldiers in Gaza and Ukraine, but that’s rather unlikely.
“We stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
While I am not permitted to attribute quotes to the diplomatic outpost in question, it’s fair to describe the reaction as withering.
“This is about respecting the individual.”
“We would be removing the veto power of the Security Council.”
A smart Russian would look at Ireland and see a country relatively friendly to the west, on good terms with the Americans, and with absolutely negligible counter-intelligence capabilities, and ask a simple question: Why change what works for us?
Neutrality has been “almost destroyed”