Ireland is just as vulnerable to international threats as its European neighbours, despite its military neutrality, according major defence review published by the Government.
The country needs to do much more to protect its territory, including working in closer co-operation with like-minded countries, the 2024 Defence Policy Review states. However, there will be no change to the State’s policy of military neutrality, which is defined by its non-membership of common defence alliances such as the Nato.
The Defence Policy Review, which was drafted by the Department of Defence, is the first of what are intended to be regular updates on the threats facing Ireland and its ability to respond.
This first review places a strong focus on the need to increase Ireland’s maritime security against external threats, particularly threats to undersea infrastructure.
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Although it does not mention Russia explicitly as a direct threat, it references Russian naval activity off the west coast in recent years and the “unprovoked, unjustified and illegal Russian military invasion of Ukraine” in 2022.
Ireland’s position on the edge of Europe and its military neutrality, “no longer minimise threats posed by malign actors. We face similar threats and challenges as other states who support the rules-based international order.”
The report concludes that while the threat of a land invasion remains low, “we are as vulnerable as any other European state, particularly to hybrid and related threats that attack our security and our democracy and seek to exploit our globalised economy.”
Ireland will retain its neutrality but continue to pursue international co-operation through Nato’s Partnership for Peace Programme and EU defence initiatives, it said.
The report also predicted significant changes in Ireland’s overseas military commitments. Peacekeeping operations may evolve from longer-term, open ended missions, to shorter, more defined missions.
These missions will also take place in a more “robust” operating environment, which will require greater force protection and capabilities.
Future missions may involve greater use of niche capabilities such as special operations forces or engineering units, it predicted. However, traditional infantry battalions will still form the core of missions.
Given the deadlock at the UN Security Council, which has not authorised a new UN peacekeeping mission in a decade, future operations are more likely to be carried out by regional organisations, including the EU, it said.
The Government is currently drafting legislation to abolish the “triple lock” which requires a UN mandate before Irish troops can be deployed on overseas missions. The triple lock allows permanent members of the Security Council to veto new mission and “bind Ireland’s hands in its international engagement,” the review says.
Much of the review focuses on a pressing need for an Integrated Monitoring and Surveillance System (IMSS). This will involve the establishment of radar and sonar systems covering air, sea and land which will be able to detect potential threats.
The development of this system is under way and is expected to cost hundreds of millions of euro.
Currently, Ireland has an extremely limited ability to track potential maritime threat and zero radar capability to track airborne threats.
The review states Ireland will also continue to be “a valuable target for espionage activity and the political influence and information operations” that facilitate it
Enhanced counter intelligence and cyber capabilities will be essential in combating these threats, it said.
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