Putin’s war on Ukraine, the NATO-Russia stand-off and Irish neutrality

The world has been made more dangerous by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s appalling war on Ukraine. For the people of that country it is a disaster as the death toll of civilians mounts and as their cities are pounded to rubble by Russian guns and bombs.

The demand now must be for a ceasefire and for immediate Russian withdrawal from Ukraine. Nothing less can end this war. Anything less will prolong the conflict and increase the danger of escalation to the region and the wider world.

Many did not believe that Putin would invade, that while he might occupy the troubled eastern provinces he would not enter Ukraine’s heartland and drive for the capital Kyiv. Yet that is what he has done and the shock-waves continue to reverberate.

If Putin’s aim was to stop Ukraine from eventually joining NATO and posing a new danger on his western flank then he has done the opposite because he has strengthened the belief in Ukraine and in those neighbouring Eastern European countries already in NATO that they need that military alliance to protect them from Russian aggression.

Nothing excuses or justifies Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Yet NATO must bear some responsibility for the current situation. Its strategy of eastward expansion to the borders of Russia has developed since the fall of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact and the reunification of Germany. Those epoch-making developments had the potential to end the dominance of nuclear-armed military alliances and to see NATO relegated to Cold War history, like the Warsaw Pact. Instead NATO grew, propelled by the arms industry and the military-industrial complex.

The expansion of NATO fuelled fear in Russia of a threat to its security, a fear ably exploited by Putin whose increasingly authoritarian and militaristic rule has persisted for two decades.

Of course, much of this is now lost sight of in the fog of war. To point out the hypocrisy of NATO, especially the US and Britain, recalling their invasion of Iraq in 2003, is to risk the accusation of being ‘soft on Russia’. The double-standards see Russia quite rightly heavily sanctioned for its war on Ukraine but Israel and Saudi Arabia actually rewarded and supported by ‘the West’ for their wars on Palestine and Yemen. Yet these things must be called out.

Those who oppose aggression whether by Russia, Israel, Britain or the USA are the consistent voices in international affairs and must continue to be heard. That is where Ireland should stand.

There has always been a lobby in the 26 Counties for neutrality to be ditched altogether and for the state to join NATO. It has had very little public support but has influenced some parties, especially Fine Gael. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is now being cynically used by Fine Gael and others to create a new push to join NATO and/or an EU army.

Those attempting to end Irish neutrality try to portray it as Ireland cowering under the shelter of the ‘NATO umbrella’. This is a caricature. In fact, the principle of neutrality and independent foreign policy is central to the idea of Irish sovereignty. Part of Ireland is of course under NATO jurisdiction with British troops still present, albeit off the streets. The direction of travel must be out of the Union with NATO member Britain, towards Irish unity and positive and active neutrality utilising the respect Ireland still commands in favour of disarmament and the peaceful resolution of international disputes.Sinn Féin spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Defence John Brady TD has called on the government to respect the commitment of the Irish people to Ireland’s long-standing policy of neutrality.

Brady said that, following a week in which the results of an opinion poll conducted by the Amárach polling group which showed that 76% of Irish people supported Irish neutrality, the Government's "beating of the war drum" of military involvement by Ireland "clearly shows the disparity between where the government wants to take the country militarily and the Irish people’s support for neutrality".

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

Sinn Féin spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Defence John Brady TD has called on the government to respect the commitment of the Irish people to Ireland’s long-standing policy of neutrality.

Brady said that, following a week in which the results of an opinion poll conducted by the Amárach polling group which showed that 76% of Irish people supported Irish neutrality, the Government’s “beating of the war drum” of military involvement by Ireland “clearly shows the disparity between where the government wants to take the country militarily and the Irish people’s support for neutrality”.

• Sinn Féin spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Defence John Brady TD

The Wicklow TD said:

“Ireland is a military neutral state, we are not aligned with any military alliance.

“This is not only an historic position; it is a position which is consistent with the wishes and the support of the Irish people for neutrality.

“An opinion poll conducted earlier this week, in the middle of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, clearly indicated that there remains an overwhelming level of support for Ireland’s position of neutrality.

“Of the 1,000 people polled by Amárach, 76% indicated that they supported Irish neutrality. A mere 15% were in favour of dropping neutrality, while a further 9% were uncommitted.

“Sinn Féin wants to have Ireland’s neutrality enshrined in the constitution following a referendum.

“The tragic events unfolding in Ukraine are horrific. And we in Ireland should be doing everything that we can to help alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people. Above all we should be leading the drive at the UN for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to provide relief and assistance to civilians.

“Under the Geneva Convention Russia has an obligation to open that corridor and is in breach of international law in not allowing critical access for NGOs to provide relief for the victims of the conflict.

“The Irish government should be using Ireland’s privileged position as a respected non-aligned nation, with a long and distinguished history of peacekeeping missions, with a seat on the UN Security Council to search for an end to the conflict.

“Instead, the government appear to be focused on utilising the tragedy of the Ukrainian people for shoddy domestic political purposes as evidenced in its attacks on Sinn Féin for our commitment to search for a diplomatic solution that could precipitate a ceasefire.

“What we are witnessing from within the ranks of the government parties is a dangerous and ill-considered attempt to start kite flying the idea of Ireland offering military assistance to Ukraine as part of an EU army.

“Defence Forces representative groups here in Ireland have stated that we are dangerously close to the point where are under resourced Defence Forces are incapable of fulfilling their current obligations to the UN.

“It is very clear that given the major challenges within the Defence Forces due to underfunding over many decades that we are dependent on other countries to provide security for us.

“Neutrality comes at a cost; the government needs to commit to funding the Defence Forces to allow them to do the job that they are qualified to do.

“I am deeply concerned at the emerging narrative from middle aged men in Leinster House who wish to send our young men and women into war.

“It is disturbing and it is not what this county needs or wants.

“Ireland has a unique position within Europe, as a non-aligned nation, without a colonial past, which is respected by states across the globe. It is very clear that the Irish people are proud of this tradition and are in favour of maintaining neutrality.

“Our focus should be on providing leadership at the UN for the non-aligned countries who have voted Ireland onto the UN Security Council. And to use our position at the UN and Europe to lead out in the search for peace, whilst providing every humanitarian assistance that we can to the Ukrainian people.”