Ireland is a weak point in Europe’s defences

Ireland, a country whose military neutrality is a symbol of its modern identity, is a mere bystander in the field of maritime security. Worse still, it is at risk of becoming an international liability, according to experts, as it is unable to protect basic infrastructure in its territorial waters, despite having become rich thanks to its hosting of technology and global trade.

The intensity of concern was heightened by the sighting of the Russian spy ship “Yantar” last week off the coast of Scotland, where Royal Air Force planes were targeted with a laser and it was believed that it was heading to Irish waters. The ship “Yantar” is under the supervision of the secret Russian Directorate for Deep Sea Research, and is designed to map and monitor submarine cables.

An island nation that did not have a navy until 1946, and had no ships by 1969, Ireland is now so severely under-resourced that only four out of eight ships are in service. Given its lack of security infrastructure, it is also isolated from those who might seek to help it. Friendly NATO member states are unable to inform it of any potential danger, such as the arrival of a Russian ship, because Ireland lacks Intelligence systems needed to receive classified information, three European naval officers told the Financial Times.

Weak points

Next year, these weaknesses will be on display. Two weeks ago, Catherine Monoli was elected as a new president, and she is vocally opposed to increased militarization. Ireland will host the rotating EU presidency for six months starting in July, and a broader summit of European and NATO countries, known as the European Political Community.

“We have big tech companies, big pharmaceutical companies, and big data here in Ireland, and that makes us a high-value target,” said Cathal Perry, former Irish Army Special Operations Commander and former lawmaker.

He added: “We are members of the European Union, but we are not members of NATO. If you want to put pressure on the European Union, or strike the Union without fear of NATO retaliation, Ireland is the starting point.”

Pivotal factor

Ireland’s location on the western edge of Europe has long been a pivotal factor in global communications. The first transatlantic “telegraph cable” linked the Irish island of Valentia to the Canadian island of Newfoundland in 1858. Today, about three-quarters of the Northern Hemisphere’s submarine “cables” pass through the country’s vast territorial waters, which are more than 10 times the area of ​​the land.

Any damage to the “cables” could disrupt financial markets throughout Europe and the United States, and any interruption in Internet service would affect homes, hospitals, banks, and companies. Ireland also depends on submarine pipelines to provide most of its energy, and any attack on this infrastructure could lead to a power outage in most parts of the country. However, Ireland does not have any radar or monitoring device.

Zero protection

Former Irish naval commander, Caoimhin Onfraid, who spent nearly three decades in the armed forces, said that the country’s ability to protect the “cables” is almost non-existent, adding: “We have no maritime inspection capabilities other than those in our naval diving department, which relies mainly on the human element, and is therefore limited in terms of the depth to which it can reach.”

As a former European security official says: “Ireland is not protected, it’s true, it’s absolutely horrific.” About the Financial Times

. Any damage to the “cables” could disrupt financial markets across Europe and America.