Politics
NATO alignment drags Ireland further into the war industry
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has acknowledged he will be spending almost €1 million on a war room. He didn’t describe it that way, of course, instead referring to:
…secure meeting facilities to allow continued engagement with international partners.
He did, however, accept that the room, designed to be surveillance proof, would be key for meetings of the nations backing Ukraine in the war against Russia. Martin revealed a further clue to the purpose of the project by saying it is “NATO proof”. In other words, up to the standards required by the NATO war machine.
Most of the Irish population would like the country to be NATO proof, but in entirely the opposite meaning of the way in which Martin used the term. I.e. – proofed from co-option by the belligerent and expansionist alliance.
Martin unilaterally rips up neutrality in alignment with NATO
That prospect seems a long way off, as the war room is just another grim step in a week full of moves towards integration in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. On Tuesday, Martin released an unprecedented statement, declaring that Ireland is:
…proud to stand with Ukraine, politically, economically, militarily and diplomatically.
The most notable word there is obviously “militarily”. With the Triple Lock in place, Martin has no authority to make such a pledge. Ireland can only deploy troops if the cabinet, Dáil and UN security council all give approval. The warmongering government of Martin is eager to scrap this policy, however.
The day after, defence minister Helen McEntee announced the country’s first ever Maritime Security Strategy. She said:
Every day, we see an increasingly volatile geopolitical situation highlighting the vulnerabilities of our critical maritime infrastructure and our ability to monitor and protect our waters.
She also declared Ireland will be:
cooperating closely with our near neighbours on new initiatives and exploring the opportunity for Ireland to host or partner in a regional cable monitoring hub for the EU in the North Atlantic.
US Big Tech pushing Ireland into militarism
The emphasis on cable protection illustrates how Ireland’s role as a hub for largely US Big Tech infrastructure is also pushing it into increased militarism. As reported previously by the Canary, the US and others are placing increased pressure on Ireland to beef up its armed forces to defend these assets.
There are signs of obvious mission creep here, however, as McEntee also referenced:
…emerging and changing threats in terms of hybrid threats, hybrid warfare and shadow fleets.
“Shadow fleets” refers to vessels ferrying cargo to Russia, often under a fake flag. If NATO powers expect the Irish navy to police this, it will inevitably mark a step towards integration in the alliance.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, who is Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Defence, pointed out that cooperation could be:
…on a bi-lateral basis – between Ireland and France, between Ireland and Britain – not with NATO.
Instead, the strategy seeks increase ties with the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). All 10 members of the JEF – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Britain – are part of NATO. The JEF itself is not formally connected to NATO.
The Irish Times reports that Ireland will be:
…part of “JEF+”, a new concept to allow allied nations to take part in individual exercises and operations as they see fit.
“When did we sign up for that, Taoiseach?”
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy tore into the policy, saying:
It’s part and parcel of an agenda of militarisation and dismantling neutrality…It is a shameful abandonment of any independent foreign policy. Instead committing us to deep military cooperation with the old colonial powers of Britain and France. Advocating further integration with NATO and using huge amounts of public money to defend the infrastructure of big tech companies.
The strategy refers to, I quote, “our responsibilities and commitments to support the security and defence of Europe.” When did we sign up for that, Taoiseach? That sounds awfully like a mutual defence pact when the protocol associated with the Lisbon Treaty explicitly stated no common defence involved.
Again and again and again the document refers positively to NATO. It says, I quote, Ireland can play a positive role in supporting greater EU-NATO cooperation. Action 4.6 is foster relations with NATO in the maritime security space. Action 4.8 pursue opportunities to participate in joint expeditionary force activities. The JEF is 10 NATO countries led by Britain. Is that one of the reasons you want to abolish the triple lock?
He also referenced a recent major arms deal with French genocidaires Thales:
No money for SNAs [Special Needs Assistants] until people power force you back. No money for electricity credits. What is there money for? The arms industry. To develop an Irish arms industry and to give to the French arms industry.
The French media is reporting that we will be spending public money a billion euros on armoured vehicles, tanks and a howitzer. Thales, who supplied weapons to Israel for the slaughter of Palestinians, will be the main recipient.
Sleazy arms deal shows the rot has taken hold
The Ditch reported on how a firm – KNDS, partner of Thales – set to benefit from that €800 million deal was part of a lobbying group that hid those efforts from scrutiny.
It amounts to one more grubby footnote in an ugly march toward European rearmament that will ultimately make the world less, not more, secure. It fills the coffers of the military-industrial complex, whose profits lie in death and destruction. With greater wealth, their ability to push governments in that direction increases.
The Irish population strongly backs neutrality, partial though it may always have been. That voice must now be heard louder than ever to pull Ireland back from the clutches of the NATO death cult.
Featured image via the Canary