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Former British Army Officer Identifies Ireland as Europe’s “Soft Underbelly” Against Russian Aggression
A decorated former British Army officer and defense analyst has singled out the Republic of Ireland, a nation celebrated for its long-standing neutrality, as potentially Europe’s most vulnerable point in the face of Russian aggression.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon OBE, who dedicated 23 years to the British Army, described Ireland as an “open goal” for Moscow. His concerns are amplified by recent statements from Irish leadership, including President Catherine Connolly, who notably declared last year, “Ireland will never be able to have an army. We do not need an army,” prior to her electoral victory.
De Bretton-Gordon asserts that Ireland’s neutral stance and its leadership’s perceived lack of emphasis on defense make the country particularly susceptible. He conveyed to the Daily Mail, “Ireland has nothing to protect itself.”
He further elaborated, “It is absolutely the soft underbelly [of Europe]. It is virtually an open goal and if Ireland doesn’t realize it is in Russian crosshairs, then it needs to do so pretty quickly.”
Historically, Ireland has maintained one of Europe’s lowest defense expenditures, allocating approximately 0.2-0.3% of its budget annually to its military. However, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and increased Russian military activities in European waters and airspace have prompted a reevaluation of the nation’s self-protection measures.
This year, Ireland announced plans to increase its defense spending to $2 billion by the end of the decade, a figure comparable to Malta’s military budget. Despite its neutrality, growing concerns stem from Ireland’s membership in the European Union and its deep cultural ties with the United Kingdom. As a non-NATO country, Ireland would not automatically receive military protection from major European powers.
The frequent presence of Russian spy ships within Irish territorial waters has raised alarms, particularly given that 75% of northern hemisphere telecommunications cables run through or near Ireland’s exclusive economic zone. In response to these escalating concerns, Ireland is anticipated to increase its defense spending, potentially investing in advanced towed array sonar systems from Thales. These multi-million dollar acquisitions would aim to bolster the defenses of its existing naval fleet, which includes four offshore patrol vessels, two large patrol vessels, and two inshore patrol vessels.