"In her inauguration speech last month, President Catherine Connolly declared not only that Ireland was "well placed to... articulate alternative diplomatic solutions to conflict and war", but that our experience of colonisation was a "mandate for Ireland to lead" on such issues. A mandate, no less. Get us."
"One person who didn't seem to be listening that day, unfortunately, was Vladimir Putin. Undeterred by Ireland's status as a sovereign independent nation with a "cherished tradition of neutrality", as President Connolly rhapsodised, Russia reportedly sent up to five drones to greet Volodymyr Zelensky as the Ukrainian leader's plane flew into Dublin for his first state visit last week."
President Catherine Connolly framed Ireland as well positioned to propose alternative diplomatic solutions to conflict and war and described Ireland's history of colonisation as a mandate to lead on international issues. The inauguration rhetoric emphasized a cherished tradition of neutrality alongside a proactive diplomatic role. The Russian military action that reportedly deployed up to five drones to greet Volodymyr Zelensky's plane during his first state visit to Dublin directly challenged that neutrality and underscored immediate security vulnerabilities. The juxtaposition of aspirational diplomatic leadership and tangible external threats raises urgent questions about national security preparedness and diplomatic strategy.
Read at Independent
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