Ireland’s President Michael D. Higgins has called for reduced NATO spending, a stance criticised for being at odds with Ireland’s reliance on NATO members for its security.
While Ireland maintains military neutrality, critics argue that it disproportionately benefits from the resources of NATO allies without making a commensurate contribution to collective defence efforts.
President Michael D. Higgins has criticised the global focus on increased military spending, particularly NATO’s calls for greater investment in armaments, arguing that it diverts resources from essential areas like education, social protection, and health.
Speaking at the 2025 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, he called for “science without borders built on co-operation in the interest of humanity” to counter the build-up of weaponry and the “rhetoric that calls for war as a state of mind.”
Higgins condemned the prioritisation of war preparations over addressing existential crises like poverty, climate change, and biodiversity loss, urging a shift towards diplomacy and collective humanitarian action.
Who Needs Defending Against?
Ireland’s strategic location in the North Atlantic places it at the crossroads of vital global infrastructure and geopolitical tensions. Recent Russian activity has highlighted specific threats that require robust defence measures. Russian submarines and naval vessels have been detected near Ireland’s undersea fibre-optic cables, which carry 97% of the world’s internet traffic and facilitate €10 trillion in daily financial transactions, often forced to move away by NATO vessels and aircraft.
These incursions raise concerns about espionage and sabotage, as any disruption to these cables could have catastrophic consequences for global communication and financial systems. Additionally, Russian military aircraft frequently enter Irish-controlled airspace without prior notification, endangering civilian aviation and forcing NATO allies, particularly the UK, to respond by deploying fighter jets to intercept and monitor these flights.
Beyond physical incursions, Ireland faces the modern threat of cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure. As a hub for transatlantic communications, Ireland is a high-value target for adversarial states seeking to disrupt Western economies and communication networks. Russian activities near Ireland mirror broader global trends, such as the suspected sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, demonstrating the tangible risks posed by state-sponsored actors.
These examples underline the importance of NATO’s protective measures, which ensure Ireland’s sovereignty and safeguard infrastructure critical not just to Ireland but to the global community.
Airspace Surveillance and Defence
Ireland lacks its own fleet of fighter jets capable of intercepting unidentified or hostile aircraft within its airspace. This critical gap is filled by the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF), which frequently undertakes air policing duties. Russian military aircraft are known to operate in the region without filing flight plans or communicating with air traffic control, posing risks to civilian aviation.
NATO countries like the UK have been stepping in to mitigate these risks, often at their own expense. The UK Defence Journal highlights how RAF Typhoon fighters routinely intercept Russian bombers approaching Irish airspace, a task Ireland is currently unable to manage independently.
Maritime Security and Undersea Cable Protection
Ireland’s maritime challenges are no less significant. Its vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a hub for undersea fibre-optic cables that carry 97% of global communications and facilitate €10 trillion in financial transactions daily.
These cables, vital for global communications and financial systems, pass through Irish waters, yet the country lacks the naval resources to monitor or protect them effectively. Russian submarines have been detected in the vicinity of these cables, raising alarms about potential sabotage or surveillance activities, something Russia has been doing to Baltic states recently.
To address this, NATO allies, including the UK, France, and Norway, have intervened. Advanced vessels like the Royal Navy’s RFA Proteus have been deployed to monitor and protect the cables.
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection
Ireland’s strategic position has also made it a focal point for cybersecurity threats. NATO collaborations, such as its Critical Undersea Infrastructure Protection Cell, have provided Ireland with expertise and coordination to address modern threats. However, Ireland’s limited capabilities in this area leave it reliant on external support. The Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, recently emphasised the urgency of bolstering defences for critical infrastructure, highlighting Ireland’s vulnerabilities in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.
NATO maritime patrol aircraft monitoring waters near Ireland
NATO’s role in protecting Ireland extends to assisting with technological advancements and coordination in safeguarding digital and physical infrastructure. This has included joint operations and advanced monitoring techniques to counter threats in real-time.
Debate Over Neutrality and Defence Spending
Ireland’s reliance on NATO allies has sparked a growing debate about its long-held policy of neutrality. Critics argue that neutrality has allowed Ireland to benefit disproportionately from NATO’s resources, burdening member states that are already stretched thin.
Ireland’s defence spending remains among the lowest in Europe, even as it occupies a strategically significant position on the transatlantic route.
Ireland’s Defence Review urges stronger defence capabilities
Journalist Yaroslav Trofimov also pointed out the irony, stating that “Ireland, whose safety is de-facto guaranteed by NATO, not only rides for free but also grandstands lecturing others who, unlike her, don’t have the luxury of being an island off an island.”
Recent Developments and Recommendations
Recent incidents have highlighted the critical nature of Ireland’s reliance on NATO. For instance, joint patrols involving Irish and NATO forces have targeted suspicious activities near undersea cables, while Ireland’s participation in NATO-supported maritime exercises has bolstered its security efforts. However, these measures also underscore the gaps in Ireland’s capabilities.
Experts recommend several measures to enhance Ireland’s security:
- Modernising the Naval Service: Expanding the fleet and acquiring advanced surveillance equipment, including underwater drones and sonar systems, to better patrol and monitor Ireland’s EEZ.
- Increased NATO Collaboration: Actively participating in initiatives like NATO’s Critical Undersea Infrastructure Protection Cell to leverage allied expertise while contributing to collective security.
- Cybersecurity Investments: Developing advanced systems to protect Ireland’s digital and physical infrastructure from cyber and physical threats.
Ireland’s reliance on NATO allies for air defence, maritime security, and cybersecurity highlights the contradictions in its stance as a militarily neutral nation. President Higgins’ calls for reduced NATO spending have brought these contradictions into sharp relief, reigniting debates over Ireland’s defence policies and the adequacy of its investment in security.
IMAGE Quirinale.it, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons
Freeloaders.
NATO creates a tragedy of the commons, even for those outside of it. Everyone gets comfortable and no one feels obligated to pay for it.
Yeah, and No. This was a comment by President Higgins, whose position has always been Tankie adjacent. He’s not speaking in any position on Government position or policy.
What does ‘Tankie adjacent’ mean. Do I need to get down with the kids or something?
Considering how NATO Countries have been effectively disarming for decades while its prime adversaries have been massively re-arming and become cocky enough to boast about the superiority in arms it gives them and meanwhile as we see in Ukraine have been able to eat through resources that even the US would have struggled to handle I really can’t comprehend the utter ignorance and crassness of this sort of statement. It’s one thing creating a World in your mind that you want to see, ironically it’s a defence mechanism, but deluding yourself that it’s for real is dangerous and self defeating, but from many it’s deeply predictable. At times I truly am beginning to think that the only logical explanation for supposedly intelligent people being so blatantly naive and short sighted is that we truly are in a simulation and some 14 year old kid is directing it all for his own boredom relieving amusement.
If you are British, see Jeremy Corbyn, he and Higgins share a lot of positions. Higgins has always been a “Western weapons and military are bad” politician, along with “all things the West does is wrong”, he has increasingly been daring the Government to spark a constitutional crisis as his time in office is ending, so far the Government has just been counting down the clock till November but are fed up with him.
Tankie is essentially slang for a proper diluted lover of old fashioned authoritarian communist states..they think Stalin and Mao were right on brothers.
It’s a misleading headline given the Irish presidency is a ceremonial position whose occupant has nothing to with domestic or international affairs.
Agreed.
Slow news week.
Yep basically an elected verson of the British monarchy..but without all the irritating siblings, heirs, spares and wives all hanging around leaching of the tax payer and hogging national resources.
The breathtaking nativity of a man who has no concept of what it takes to keep his country safe.
NATO is a defensive organisation , its purpose is not to start a fight but to finish it.
As distasteful as defence spending is a strong defence is the best way to avoid war.
Shame our government does not understand that.
Given that as Taoiseach, Eamon de Valera, visited the German Legation in Dublin to express condolences on the death of Adolf Hitler in 1945, I’m never surprised by the nonsense that Irish politicians spout.
I wonder why the Donald has not started on Ireland yet, could be a prime target for greater America. A small undefended country that has a massive budget surplus with America.
Perhaps we will need to rename the Irish Sea the America Sea.
Ireland does NOT think that. The far left nutter Ireland is unfortunate to have as powerless symbolic president said it, despite having no constitutional authority to do so. He has a long history of shooting his mouth off, saying dumb things, being an apologist of Putin, attacking NATO, attacking the EU, and completely contradicting Irish foreign policy. He is in a powerless office and is an irrelevance with a monster ego. He should stick to writing his crappy poetry rather than shooting his mouth off. At this stage most of Ireland is fed up of his ignorant interventions and are counting the days until his term ends in November. So, don’t think Michael D Higgins speaks for Ireland. He doesn’t. He has spent years doing nothing but promoting his fringe nutty opinions. The Irish government sets foreign policy, not Higgins. Higgins is an irrelevance with a monster ego and stunning ignorance.