Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24 last year, Micheal Martin, then Ireland’s prime minister, insisted on several occasions that “Ireland’s official policy is to be militarily non-aligned. We are, however, not politically non-aligned”.
Although Ireland was quick to condemn Russia’s aggression and express its support for Ukraine’s right to self-defence, opinion polls have repeatedly indicated that the majority of Irish people want to maintain the country’s policy of military neutrality. […]
In a public shift from its policy during World War II, Ireland has provided 122 million euros ($133m) in nonlethal military assistance to Ukraine such as food, fuel, medical equipment and protective gear, and 63 million euros ($68m) in stabilisation and humanitarian support.
Ireland is also hosting almost 90,000 Ukrainian refugees, who represent 1.8 percent of its population.
Clarke applauds the move by the Irish government, adding: “I want Ireland to do all it can to help and resettle Ukrainian refugees.”
She feels that this is the best way for Ireland to contribute to the war effort as “our army is too small to help Ukraine in any impactful military way”. […]
Despite a national reckoning with neutrality as a result of the war in Ukraine, Cottey believes that it is very unlikely that Ireland will abandon this policy as it “has become associated with a range of other policies and foreign policy activities that the Irish public generally support, such as engagement in UN peacekeeping missions, support for nuclear disarmament and conflict resolution activities”.
However, he believes that Ireland will try to strengthen its pre-existing relationships, such as with NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme and EU defence projects like Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). Läs artikel