The notion that Ireland is invulnerable to threats or attacks due to its neutrality is disregarding the realities of modern warfare. The threats to our sovereignty are now more likely to come in the form of cyber attacks or surveillance activities. These challenges are new, diverse, and very real, and they do not recognize national borders. It is imperative that we work with other nations as part of the international community, just as we have historically done.
Throughout history, Ireland has always collaborated with allies abroad, from Brian Boru’s alliance with the Vikings to our gratitude towards “gallant allies abroad” during the 1916 rebellion. Even in the early days of independence, Éamon de Valera toured numerous capitals to secure support for the Irish state. The idea of NATO membership in a united Ireland scenario was even discussed by Seán Lemass in the 1960s. Working with others and forming strategic alliances is not a new concept for us.
In the modern world, national borders are becoming more fluid, and therefore our defenses must adapt accordingly. Rather than isolating ourselves, we have a responsibility to assess our position and find the best way to protect our citizens and assets in the 21st century. We should keep our options open and carefully consider our place in the global order. The concept of traditional neutrality is largely confined to smaller countries like Malta, while other neutral countries such as Sweden and Finland have embraced strategic partnerships in recent years.
While Ireland’s island status has provided some sense of security against conflicts in Europe, it also brings new challenges. Our maritime territory is vast and acts as a frontier between Europe and North America. We cannot protect it alone. We are already experiencing attacks on our cyber, data, and maritime fronts, and it is essential that we work with others to safeguard our assets. Our economy heavily relies on undersea cables and data infrastructure, which need protection in order to maintain our sovereignty.
This does not mean that Ireland needs to join NATO immediately, or even at all. As of now, our defense spending falls far short of NATO’s requirement of 2.5% of GDP. However, it makes strategic sense to seek expertise from others in areas such as cyber security and subsea cable protection. Collaboration and learning from others should be embraced, whether it is through NATO or European partnerships in defense and security.
It is important to note that the only NATO intervention in the past 30 years was in Kosovo to stop bloodshed and in response to the 9/11 attacks. The actions of NATO members can be compared to those of EU and UN members who engage in combat independently. This has not caused us to question our memberships in those organizations. We should not hesitate to cooperate with EU partners on defense and security issues, just as we already do on crime, policing, and legal matters.
It is somewhat paradoxical that we have a specific provision in our Constitution preventing us from joining a European Defense Force, but no provision against allying with NATO or any other organization. This highlights the need for a measured, rational, and informed debate on this matter. The Dublin Castle Forum provides an opportunity for a national conversation that is long overdue, and it demonstrates our society’s maturity. I look forward to the findings of this forum, and it is reassuring to protect against a known adversary.
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