Latest news with #neutrality
BreakingNews.ie
11 hours ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
McGrath defends Kallas over comments about Ireland
Ireland's EU Commissioner doesn't think the vice president of the Commission meant to offend anyone when she commented on neutrality last week. Kaja Kallas, the former prime minister of Estonia, said the country's policy lacked understanding of "atrocities, mass deportations, suppression of culture and language". Advertisement Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion has asked her to apologise for the comments. But Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath thinks what she said was over-interpreted. Mr McGrath said: "I know from my engagement with her that she has a deep affinity for Ireland, there was no malice whatsoever intended in her remarks. "She is a very knowledgeable, very intelligent, very respectful person. She was speaking freely in an open debate in the Parliament, which is something that should be encouraged."
Irish Times
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Ireland backs €150bn defence plan as EU moves to rearm
Ireland is to sign up to a major new EU defence initiative that will allow member states to jointly procure military equipment as the bloc seeks to rapidly rearm in the face of Russian aggression. The EU regulation, known as Security Action for Europe (Safe), relaxes procurement rules for defence purchases and allows countries to work together to develop and acquire military capacities. The Government believes becoming a member will allow Ireland to secure military equipment at a lower cost and faster pace – in some cases up to two years earlier than under existing procurement arrangements. The Safe initiative also makes €150 billion available to member states, in the form of low-interest, long-term loans, to rapidly increase defence spending amid doubts over the United States's future commitment to European security. READ MORE Ireland is not signing up to the loan facility yet but is closely examining it as a potential funding mechanism for the modernisation of the Defence Forces . A decision on availing of the defence loans is expected in the near future, sources said. The decision to sign up to the Safe regulation represents a significant step towards closer co-operation between Ireland and the EU on defence issues. It is likely to draw significant criticism from pro- neutrality campaigners who will view it as further erosion of Ireland's non-aligned status within Europe. During previous discussions on the proposals, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said joint defence procurement is about achieving value for money and would have no impact on neutrality. The Safe initiative is a core pillar of the European Commission's ReArm Europe Plan, which aims to inject €800 billion into the EU's defence industry over the coming years. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris is expected to announce the decision to join Safe today. Ireland will use its membership of the plan to focus on acquiring artillery, cyber and air defence systems as well as replacing the Army's fleet of armoured personnel carriers. Other projects include the purchase of ammunition, artillery, ground combat capabilities and drones. Under Safe, Ireland will partner with other countries to purchase this equipment, resulting in cost savings. In some cases, the equipment will be partially financed by EU loans obtained by the partner countries. For example, if Germany is acquiring a new batch of artillery shells, it will be able to amend its order to include Ireland as a partner. This would allow Ireland to obtain a small portion of the shells at a much lower price than if it had ordered them alone. Safe's goal is two-fold; to build up the military capabilities of member states and to support a native EU defence industry independent of the United States. In order to qualify for Safe support, 65 per cent of the value of purchases must be from an EU country or Ukraine. Mr Harris is expected to argue that joining Safe will allow Ireland to speed up the acquisition of capabilities such as air defence and sonar systems, two priority spending areas for the Government. He said he is determined to 'provide for the development of a full spectrum of Defence Force Capabilities that will bring Ireland in line with other similar-sized European countries,' he said. 'I have agreed, therefore, that the Department of Defence should leverage the common procurement opportunities offered under the Safe Regulation as much as possible to progress delivery of Ireland's defence capabilities needs as quickly as possible.'
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Dubai and Abu Dhabi's Haven Status Tested by Middle East Crisis
The United Arab Emirates has managed to thrive during global instability, drawing capital during the Arab Spring, opening up quickly during the pandemic and attracting Russian money after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. But the Iran-Israel confrontation, which involved the US, poses one of the most stringent tests yet to the country's neutral and open-for-business stance.
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Switzerland Seeks Defense Cooperation With EU in New Talks
Switzerland wants to start exploratory talks on a defense partnership with the European Union as worries about a US retreat from the continent prompt a rethink of security policy in the traditionally neutral country. Cooperation should take the form of a 'non-legally-binding declaration of intent,' the government in Bern said in a statement. A partnership of this kind is a prerequisite for any joint procurements in the defense sector, it added.
Washington Post
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Populist leader suggests ahead of NATO summit that Slovakia might be better off neutral
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested Tuesday that his country might be better off neutral as he and other officials prepared for a NATO summit next week. Fico made the remarks before heading into a meeting with political party leaders and President Peter Pellegrini to discuss proposals to increase defense spending to meet targets that the alliance is moving toward. Fico accused Western leaders of being 'warmongers' who enable weapons profiteering in their support of Ukraine.
