IN-DEPTH BRIEFING // #73 // MAY 24
EUROPE’S WEAKEST LINK? DEFENCE AND SECURITY IN IRELAND
AUTHOR
Captain Rory McCarthy Visiting Fellow, CHACR
The Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research is the British Army’s think tank and tasked with enhancing the conceptual component of its fighting power. The views expressed in this In Depth Briefing are those of the author, and not of the CHACR, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Ministry of Defence, British Army or US Army. The aim of the briefing is to provide a neutral platform for external researchers and experts to offer their views on critical issues. This document cannot be reproduced or used in part or whole without the permission of the CHACR. www.chacr.org.uk
R
USSIA’S invasion of Ukraine has forced a reckoning amongst European cabinets and defence ministries in dealing with the burgeoning reality of protecting themselves in a multi-polar world. States have recognised the acute threat posed by the revanchist power and responded accordingly. Finland and Sweden have abandoned long-held policies of neutrality in favour of joining NATO.1 Poland has undergone a substantial defence expenditure increase – bolstering its supplies of artillery, tanks and armoured vehicles.2 French President Emmanuel Macron, perceiving an absence of a coherent European vision on Ukraine, has sought to energise partners with recent comments in Prague.3 However, the rush to bolster defence capabilities and deepen collective security co-operation has not been shared across all capitals. Ireland, which has long embraced a stance of military neutrality, has struggled to achieve a similar sense of
urgency in responding to the threat posed by war returning to Europe. Recently this approach has drawn more attention and at times criticism. Ireland has been called the “weak link” of European defence.4 A prominent think tank accused Ireland of being a ‘freeloader’ in defence which is reliant upon the Royal Air Force and the wider NATO umbrella for protection without paying for this support.5 These criticisms draw two questions. Firstly, what threats does Ireland face that are jeopardising European security? Secondly, what is defending Ireland? This In-Depth Briefing will attempt to provide an examination of the Irish strategic context in 2024 – exploring historical, political and cultural factors. It will address the challenges and offer potential solutions to some of the issues facing Ireland.
Ireland’s ‘cherished’ principle of neutrality.6 Ireland’s military neutrality is an historically complex matter. The state’s articulation of the ‘traditional policy of military neutrality’ has been interpreted as a position of righteous morality.7 Phelan Chatterjee, ‘How Sweden and Finland Went from Neutral to NATO’, BBC, 11 July 2023. 1
Giulia Carbonaro, ‘Poland Said Its Army Will Soon Be the Strongest in Europe. But Is That Possible?’, Euronews, 6 September 2023. 2
Jason Hovet, ‘France’s Macron Urges Allies Not to Be Cowardly on Ukraine’, Reuters, 5 March 2024. 3
Eoin Drea, ‘Ireland Is Europe’s Weakest Link’, Foreign Policy, 8 November 2022. 4
Marcus Solarz Hendriks and Harry Halem, ‘Closing the Back Door: Rediscovering Northern Ireland’s Role in British National Security’, Special Report (London: Policy Exchnge, 5 February 2024). 5
Matt McCarthy, ‘Dáil Éireann Debate Neutrality’, 1044 5 § (2023). 6
HISTORIC CONTEXT – HOPE AS A STRATEGY Any exploration of Ireland’s security position must examine
1 // IN-DEPTH BRIEFING // CHACR
Department of Foreign Affairs, ‘International Security Policy - Background Information’. 7