A former Army officer and defence commentator has identified the EU country that he believes is the weakest point in Europe’s defences against Russian aggression. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon OBE, who served in the British Army for 23 years, believes that the Republic of Ireland, known for its neutrality for over a century, is an “open goal” for Moscow.
The country’s leftwing president Catherine Connolly famously declared last year before her election victory that “Ireland will never be able to have an army. We do not need an army”. For de Bretton-Gordon, it is the country’s neutrality and views of its leaders on the need for defence that make the company the Achilles heel of Europe. He told the Daily Mail: “Ireland has nothing to protect itself.
“It is absolutely the soft underbelly [of Europe]. It is virtually an open goal and if Ireland doesn’t realise it is in Russian crosshairs, then it needs to do so pretty quickly.”
The country has notoriously spent very little on defence, with annual spends of around 0.2-0.3% putting it amongst the lowest spenders in Europe.
However, war in Ukraine and an increase in tempo from the Russian military in European waters and airspace, has seen the country pledge to do more to protect itself.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Ireland would commit to increasing defence spending to £1.5billion by the end of the decade – a figure similar to that spent by Malta.
Despite Ireland’s neutral status, there is evidence to suggest that the country could still be targeted by Russia, given its status as an EU member and close cultural ally to the UK.
Also, as a non-NATO nation, it would not automatically enjoy the military protection of Europe’s greatest powers.
It has regularly seen Russian spy ships within its territorial waters. This is made all the more alarming by the fact that 75% of telecommunications cables in the northern hemisphere pass through or near Ireland’s exclusive economic zone.
The country’s increase in defence spending is likely to focus on the purchase of several towed array sonar systems from Thales, worth tens of millions of pounds to protect its four offshore patrol vessels, two large patrol vessels and two inshore patrol vessels.
