Since as mentioned its clogging up a couple of threads and taking them off topic, perhaps a thread for this and any reactions to it.
Mortifying.
The usual handwringing from politicians will ensue, but the reality is that we negligible defence capability at sea or air.
This isnt the first intrusion into Irish EEZ, and it wont be the last. Expect more in future, a d*ckwaving exercise by the Russians to make a point of how close to shore (and cables) they can get with no more than a finger wagging from ourselves.
No doubt it makes western europe feel more exposed too knowing that the North Atlantic isn't as safe as theyd have hoped, again owing much to our lack of ability.
And yet nothing surprising to those that have been highlighting issues for so long...
Apart from France and a rare few smaller countries, no country in the EU bother with properly funding defense.
That is what America is for.
Your post is correct but the examples you give are part of the problem.
All of them spend significantly more than we do, if we were even spending the EU average of circa 1%, we would effectively have trebled the defence spend and we likely wouldn't be having this conversation.
All spend more but very few pay their way.
We are returning to a world where issues such as defense, food security and supply etc are no longer going to be dismissed as trivial distraction
maybe now they will look to invest as they are being internationally shown up. It’s a real we told you so moment.
But not to worry, as Coveney has sent an email and a hand written letter to the embassy.
A real donnybrook way of saying stop kicking the ball at my wall
Indeed. Wait for the statement from the Residents Association to come out later.
The art of diplomacy.
The Russian ambassador will do an impersonation of Mc Gregor down the phone to Coveney. "YE'LL DO NUTTIN"
The whole thing will be forgotten by the Irish public in a week bad those few with an interest in the military/security or foreign affairs. It'll be funny the next time the taoiseach turns up in Downing Street to demand something from Brexit Britain.
i can’t imagine it will be forgotten about that easy, this has to a final straw moment they are firing ballistic missiles of our coast to point out an EU spot, I would suspect there will be more Tupolev action up and down in the coming months. There may also be push from the EU/UK following this. It’s a kick in the face considering we’re Ireland sits on the UNSC and our status. I think the neutrality card has been played long enough.
There is multiple reasons for investment to happen and if it doesn’t happen we as well outsource our defence.
getting back to the missile tests…
Do we know what the Russian taskforce will consist of? What are we looking at here? A small flotilla of 3 ships? Or some sort of taskforce potentially ready to do damage in Europe?
Such as?
No point feeding the trolls.
I think they said the Russian flotilla will be 6 ships, plus long range aircraft, Ilyushin 38s or Tu-142s presumably. There won't be any fighters as the Russians have no operational aircraft carriers.
They have 17 SSNs assigned to Arctic and Atlantic duties, but God knows how many of those are actually serviceable.
I can find no further evidence of this anywhere online.
At the same time, I imagine that's a fairly routine occurrence, it just takes on a more interesting twist in the current circumstances.
Shannon Airport will be like Las Vegas until the exercise is over.
There’s been a few P8s being tracked on the airplane scanner sites, they are already patrolling the area.
Anybody reckon the PC12's will be able to make a useful contribution to monitoring this deployment? Would be the first time they've been "used in anger", and certainly a pretty good workout for the ISTAR kit on board.
This could be an interesting development:
There will be a duty on the Irish Navy to provide protection to our own fishermen, in their own waters.
These waters aren’t Irish territorial waters.
We know that.
So, is it your contention that the Irish Navy have no duty of care, to Irish (or indeed EU) fishermen lawfully going about their business in the Irish EEZ?
I didn’t say that, your claim they are our waters is wrong.
they are international waters and there are no laws being broken here, since you brought up law.
They are our waters in the sense that they are our exclusive economic zone.
The question still remains, if Irish fishermen are interfered with by Russian ships in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone, does the Irish Navy not have a duty to provide protection?
What are you on about exactly?
did you read the article , the first few lines have your answers.
The drills will take place in international waters, and I think it’s the fisherman are planning to interfere with the Russians not the other way around?
Can people put a 'hold' on part of international waters if they give a heads up beforehand, or is it first come, first serve?
If the Irish fishermen set up shop there and are going about their usual fishing business, can the Russians come along and boot them out given they said they were going to use the spot? Or would it be tough luck, the Irish fishermen were there first?
If they came along and booted the Irish fishermen out who had a right to be there, you would imagine the Irish Defense Forces would be under some obligation to protect them.
They are indeed international waters, but also the internationally recognised EEZ of Ireland. As such we are arguably entitled to protect it as an environment and an ecosystem, even moreso than the Russians are entitled to pull up and dump a load of dodgy metals and chemicals into it from a shoot.
Fair play to the Fisherman wanting to exert their livelihoods. Yes the Government will be obliged to protect them, 4 patrol ships ought to do it and then the Americans will also be keen to keep an eye on proceedings and assist one of their deepest and oldest friends from Russian intimidation, two destroyer task groups ought to do that (Flagship USS The Sullivans seems appropriate).
Should become a busy little patch of real estate for a few days.
I would have to agree. I find it difficult to envisage a situation where the Irish Navy would just stand by and not be obligated to offer protection.
On ADS-B daily.
Well if the reports are true that are going around about only 1 ship avavilable the navy will be needing to re actavite ASM to get 4 ships to sea!
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