Growing risk of Ireland’s land, sea, air being used for attack by belligerent powers – Defence report: Forces ‘not equipped’ to deal with outside threats, Commission calls for 300% budget increase
Growing risk of Ireland’s land, sea, air being used for attack by belligerent powers – Defence report: Forces ‘not equipped’ to deal with outside threats, Commission calls for 300% budget increase
5 comments
**Excerpts:**
>There is a growing risk of Ireland’s land, sea and air being used by belligerent powers to attack its nearest neighbours, according to a high-level report to be published on Wednesday.
>The activities of Russia and China, along with Islamic and right-wing extremists, have been named as the most severe threats to Irish security by the Commission on the Defence Forces.
>In its final report to Government, the commission lays out a series of perceived threats from state and non-state actors and recommends urgent reform of the military, particularly the Naval Service and Air Corps.
[…]
>The report also contains the most damning official assessment of Irish security in many years. The Army told the commission “it is not equipped, postured or realistically prepared to conduct a meaningful defence of the State against a full-spectrum force for any sustained period of time.”
>The commission said it is clear the same applies to the Air Corps and Naval Service.
>It makes clear the current level of defence spending is not sustainable if Ireland wishes to possess a credible military capability. Introducing a programme to modernise the military and bring it in line with similar-sized countries would require a spending increase of up to 300per cent, the report says.
Its really funny how they talk about the dangers of right wing extremists while completely ignoring the fact that Russia and China are left wing extremists.
I presume something along the basis of the Swiss Armed Forces but with more naval assets instead of land assets would suit Ireland well. I don’t think Ireland actually operates any combat jets so a couple squadrons + trainers is certainly worthwhile.
The country is obviously not an offensive power and has zero desire to be one, but at least posing some credible defensive naval assets perhaps along the lines of the MEKO 200 or Type 31 seems like a good idea in era of increased belligerence.
The lack of people in both the air corps and naval service are the biggest problem though, no point buying new assets if you only have <2000 people between the two services to use them.
Here lads, can y’all just protect us? We can’t pay the military a decent wage and have a rusty tank.
If you be nice we’ll help you dodge tax like neo dodging bullets
China is now apparently a credible military threat to Ireland. Lol.