Can she also please tell that to Austria?
Ireland is neutral, that’s their thing, can hardly blame them considering england’s bullshit over the centuries.
Is Russia sponsoring fascists in Ireland like elsewhere? Because that would be a call to respond.
Is Russia sponsoring fascists in Ireland like elsewhere?
Of course. There have been all sorts of shenanigans related to Russia.
So nobody should take any stance other than the one that benefits them directly? Well then bye bye EU and bye bye Ireland’s economy. This kind of pick-and-choose, factured, no-consensus thinking is exactly what’s wrong with the EU today. It shouldn’t be that hard to agree that if something is a threat to the EU, it’s a threat to any country within it
I can and do blame them, it is a cowardly position. We were a fledgling nation finally having full autonomy and self direction when the continent went to shit. It was the right position to hold, we could not enter the war without risking our existence. It was the best thing for us to do. Now it is lazy, and spineless to be neutral. There are no Iranian aircraft refueling here, but we are neutral. It is just cowardice and poor leadership. We could be manufacturing ammunition, investing in R&D. Two of biggest industries but no, wben it comes to defense of our supposed ideals we are pussies.
Geography on the other hand…
What is she actually trying to say?
Ireland isn’t a neutral country, it’s a EU member state and the EU has a common defense agreement.
The article also mentions Ireland is stepping up defense spending and makes maritime defense a priority during its EU presidency.
So why does Kallas (who is not representing NATO but the EU) call Ireland out for not being a NATO member?Ireland isn’t a neutral country
It is yeah. I’m not necessarily a fan of it myself but that’s where we are. We have a defence force, not an army. We have never been involved in a war (directly) though we do take sides, Ukraine being an example where we delivered non lethal aid for the first time in our history.
it’s a EU member state and the EU has a common defense agreement.
The wording in that clause is partly to accommodate our neutrality.
So why does Kallas (who is not representing NATO but the EU) call Ireland out for not being a NATO member?
I didn’t see that anywhere. Our defence spending has been tiny compared to other nations and with hybrid attacks on the rise across Europe we can’t afford to rely on our larger neighbours any more, especially with many transatlantic internet cables coming aground in Ireland.
We have a defence force, not an army.
The Irish Defence Forces consists of three branches:
- The Air Corps
- The Naval Service
- The ARMY
though we do take sides
That means we’re not neutral.
The Irish governments stance on neutrality is a farce. They say things like “we’re militarily neutral, not politically neutral” which is total nonsense. They have basically made up their own definition of neutrality.
Neutral is neutral. Theres no picking to be militarily neutral over politically neutral. There’s already a name for that. Its called being a “non-belligerent” country.
Theres a reason why the government have opposed defining neutrality in our constitution over and over again because it will ruin their bullshit narrative.
On top of that, most Irish people also seem to have no idea what neutrality requires and if they ever figured out what it would really mean then they wouldnt support it because it would involve things like not taking a stance on things like Gaza.
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Since when Ireland is part of common defence agreement?
Ireland opt out of it due to their neutrality
https://ireland.representation.ec.europa.eu/ireland-and-eu-defence-security_en
Why would it? In ireland case it’s the distance.
Most of Europe’s internet connection from the US goes through Ireland.
United Kingdom actually. May I suggest you go look at a map of where all the undersea cables go?
Seems you’re correct. There are 6 Transatlantic to Ireland and lots from Ireland to the UK but more transatlantic go to the UK which is news to me.
It doesn’t need to as Ireland has a defence pact with the United Kingdom. The UK protects both Ireland’s airspace and waters due to how close it is to our own. Due to the size of Ireland it would never be able to field a military large enough to be of any use operating on it’s own.
Ireland counting on the UK despite history is certainly a take.
Yeah but we hide behind neutrality as if it is some greater moral position meanwhile we underfund and train our military.
We could be doing a lot more.
If their performance in Ukraine is any indicator, I don’t think most of Europe has anything to fear outside of nukes.
Lots of Ukrainians died and keep dying. Even an impotent regime like Russia can do a lot of damage.
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Ireland of all countries doesn’t seem like a potential target for Russia tbh, but maybe there’s something I’m missing here
Unless they follow through with their threat to nuke the north atlantic and turn the UK into a second Atlantis
Why would Russia conquer Europe when they can expand their cities in the east where the future center of the world will be?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valeriepieris_circle
This war is distracting Europe from the even bigger danger that major innovations will happen there and Europe will have to follow.
Once Asia has the same level of education, the 500 million Europeans will become much less relevant.
Why would Russia conquer Europe
What? They’re obviously in the thick of attempting it right now.
when they can expand their cities in the east where the future center of the world will be?
What? Have you seen the geography of Russia?
No they’re not in the thick of attempting it now. Putin is in the thick of attempting to rebuild the Soviet Empire and failing miserably now 5 years into his 3 day “special military operation”.
What? They’re obviously in the thick of attempting it right now.
All of Europe or just Ukraine and maybe the Baltics? Without Boris Johnson, Russia was willing to settle for east Ukraine. Why should they want more now?
What? Have you seen the geography of Russia?
I have. Their country stretches till North Korea.
All of Europe or just Ukraine and maybe the Baltics?
Ah sure that’s grand so.
Russia was willing to settle for east Ukraine
Yeah that’s why they made a grab for the whole country. The state of you trying to defend their imperialist bullshit.
Their country stretches till North Korea.
Yeah and there’s a reason nobody lives there in the 21st century. It’s shit land.
Yeah that’s why they made a grab for the whole country.
That doesn’t matter for this argument. They were willing to settle for less which means they are not hell-bent on conquering Europe.
there’s a reason nobody lives there
Historically. There is no need to have farming close-by. Any terrain will do if it allows them to participate in the Asian economy.
They were willing to settle for less
Why? Their goal was total capture of Ukraine. What stopped them? Only armed resistance that they were unable to overcome. They would happily be in full control of Ukraine if they were able to so it’s entirely relevant to the discussion. That was their aim. They just failed.
Any terrain will do if it allows them to participate in the Asian economy.
Again I don’t think you have any idea how shit that land is. Population density in the bulk of Russia is under ten people per square kilometer. There’s a reason for that and it’s not lack of desire to be closer to the east.
They just failed.
Which means they must at least have realized that they can’t conquer Europe now, if they had planned to do so.
It’s wise to keep a strong army but I cannot imagine that Russia aims at Europe.
There’s a reason for that and it’s not lack of desire to be closer to the east.
Why not? There was no reason to move close to North Korea so far. But it is kind of South Russia, so with a better outlook it makes sense to grow the cities there now.