Ireland's Neutrality Under Fire Due To Ukraine War

Did you know Ireland needs permission from Russia, China, France, the US and the UK if it wants to deploy more than 12 soldiers to a combat zone?

Photo Insert: Ireland's leaders insist this military neutrality does not mean the country is politically or morally neutral.

The country is militarily neutral and operates under a "triple lock" system that includes a mandatory resolution from UN Security Council, Rosie Birchand reported for Deutsche Welle (DW).

But Ireland's leaders insist this military neutrality does not mean the country is politically or morally neutral — not least in light of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ireland has supported Ukraine with €122 million ($134 million) in nonlethal military assistance such as fuel, food, medical equipment, or protective gear.

Ireland also authorized 30 members of the Irish Defense Forces to offer training to Ukrainian soldiers at a first-of-its-kind EU mission. But that broad backing for Kyiv is now sparking debate in Dublin, as in other neutral nations in Europe.

"Ireland's benign geographical position broadly means that we don't have to confront the security dilemmas those nearer Russia have had to face," Brigid Laffan, emeritus professor with the European University Institute, told DW.

Laffan says "Psychologically, the Irish don't feel threatened." Ireland had the lowest defense spending of any EU member in 2021 at just 0.2% of GDP, compared to a bloc-wide average of 1.3%.

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