The Reality of Neutrality
Ireland’s Military Progress
After the Cold War, Austria and Switzerland became the only European states to be considered permanently neutral under international law. Yet, four additional states still identified themselves as military neutral entities, including Finland, Malta, Sweden, and Ireland. When the Russo–Ukrainian war began in 2022, these states reconsidered their neutral policies– wary of similar historical events that placed them in potentially dangerous positions. Finland and Sweden have since joined NATO, moving away from military neutrality. Texas National Security Review explained how the Republic of Ireland debates following in similar footsteps, increasing military expenditure and defense spending by 50%.
As the Arctic circle continuously develops into a strategic battleground for oil and gas, states like Russia and the United States rush to expand their influence in the Arctic. Ireland is poised in a unique position, having favorable geographic distance to the Arctic; however, this proximity has led to increased interactions with Russian Naval ships. Ireland has been kept on its toes, tracking and deterring Russian Naval activity on its southwest coast. In January 2022, CNN shared how a mere group of Irish fishermen barked at the Russian Navy to back off– essentially forcing the large super power into making an immediate U–turn. When Russia planned to install drills closeby the Irish coast, the local fishermen turned to international diplomacy, taking a stand for their livelihoods. In recent years proceeding this event, more Irish citizens have expressed concern for the nation’s lack of military protection. Texas National Security Review exclaims concern for recent statistics; around the end of 2022, Ireland had around 8,000 military personnel– 3,000 less than the Commission on the Defense Forces recommended. Irish vessels are left unmanned.
In a world daunted by increasing international interactions and tension sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the idea of neutrality seems difficult to uphold. The National Defense University Press shares a quote by former American Secretary of State John Foster Dulles that defines the problem well: “Neutrality has increasingly become an obsolete conception.” As ‘former’ neutral states move towards more military spending and defense policy, Switzerland remains the only permanent neutral European state; Switzerland has not joined the European Union, unlike its member states that have turned to the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) for collective defense. The Washington Post explained how even after the first four days of the Russo–Ukrainian war, Switzerland deviated from neutrality and joined Western sanctions against Moscow. Switzerland also contributes financially to support Ukraine, but insists its new policies remain consistent with historic neutrality. Thus, this begs the question, what is neutrality? Perhaps in this new era of warfare and changing international relations, the concept of neutrality itself is evolving– or maybe we are simply looking for new ways to slip by it.