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With Merkel and Macron calling for an EU army, would Ireland have to join?

Comments

  • #2
    Del2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,101 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    We are already in the Nordic battle group and some of our troops have served in Afghanistan.

    We were never neutral in that we couldn't protect our borders, what we are is militarily non aligned with NATO( the UK) protecting our borders. A countries neutrality never bothered other countries when planning invasions, the UK and Germans invaded a lot of neutral countries in WW2, so I wouldn't count on our fake neutrality if the sh1t hits the fan.


  • #3
    4ensic15
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,691 ✭✭✭4ensic15


    sexmag wrote: »
    https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/germanys-angela-merkel-calls-for-a-european-union-military

    As the title says, if an EU army was to be created would we be obliged to join or are we protected by the Lisbon treaty or some other form of neutrality?

    You can't be protected by neutrality. You either enter into a defensive alliance or maintain a defence force sufficient to deter/repel an aggressor. We do not maintain anything like a sufficient defence force and are not a member of any mutual defence alliance. We could opt out of any defence alliance within europe if we wished. That is enshrined in the EU treaties. In reality without Britain in the EU, we are going to be under economic pressure to join the EU army.


  • #4
    muletide
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,506 ✭✭✭muletide


    A lot of pressure will come on Ireland to get involved in the next few years. Over the past 12 months the Taoiseach and Tanaiste have been on a roadshow looking for EU capitals support for Ireland in relation to Brexit. For example, we went to the Baltic states to look for their help with the biggest crisis facing our country in recent history, meanwhile they are dealing with Russian aggression both conventional military and through more hybrid means i.e. the biggest challenge facing them in recent years of which we contribute nothing towards. Do you think that went unnoticed ?

    I don’t think we will get involved in any form of enhanced forward presence similar to current NATO operations but key to a common EU policy on Defence will be the involvement of all 27 members, if even one flag is missing it runs contrary to Macron’s claims of a united and strong Europe.

    Also with the UK away from the table, France’s voice becomes much stronger. Hence I can see more robust EU missions along the Sahel region of Africa to support French priorities in the region. Furthermore the Visegrad group of Eastern states now hold the largest block of votes in the EU and their focus, while primarily toward NATO, is a stronger European defence against Russian aggression. These are political and security realities that need to be considered.

    There are also a myriad of efficiency measures to be achieved through EU Defence Funds and commonality of purchases.

    Unfortunately the one lacking component in all this is a mature conversation at a national level on issues around defence and the N word. But what politician is going to kick that sleeping dog?


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