Ireland raises concerns with Russia over planned naval exercises - The Irish Times

Ireland has raised concerns with Russia over controversial naval exercises planned for next month within the State’s exclusive economic zone.

The Irish Aviation Authority has said it has been made aware that a Russian military drill will take place in international waters 240km off the southwest coast, amid concerns that the drill will include a so-called ‘live fire’ exercise.

A spokesman for Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said on Sunday that his department had raised the matter “at senior level with the Russian authorities and will continue to do so in the week ahead”.

Civilian aircraft will be routed away from the area during the exercises, between 5am and 3pm during the period from February 3rd and 8th.

“The Minister will also be discussing Russia and tensions on the border with Ukraine at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels tomorrow,” the spokesman said.

While there is understood to be deep unhappiness in Iveagh House over the exercise, the view is also that the Russians have complied with international law by informing civil aviation authorities of the exercise, which is in international waters.

A notice to air traffic control from the IAA stated that “pursuant to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) annexs 11,15 and for safety of air traffic in the area you are kindly requested to issue international notam (a notice to airmen) to temporarily close above area for flights from surface to 11,000 metres”.

Embassy meeting

Russian ambassador to Ireland Yury Filatov and Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lt Gen Seán Clancy met on Friday to discuss armed contacts between the two countries. The meeting took place at the Russian Embassy on Orwell Road, Dublin.

“Parties discussed the issues of Russia-Ireland relations and international agenda, as well as prospects of contacts between (the) armed forces of (the) two countries,” the embassy said on Twitter on Friday.

In response, the Department of Defence said the meeting was a “routine courtesy call”.

“As the recently appointed Chief of Staff, it is normal for foreign ambassadors to pay routine courtesy calls. This is one of a series of meetings. Such meetings are a matter for the chief of staff, not the minister. There is no ongoing military cooperation with Russia and there is no intention to do so.”

Independent TD Cathal Berry said he believed the meeting has to do with a proposed naval exercise that the Russian navy intends to undertake in February. Independent TD Cathal Berry said he believed the meeting has to do with a proposed naval exercise that the Russian navy intends to undertake in February.

‘Militarily weak’

Dr Berry, a former army ranger, said the live firing exercise, while being legal, is a “warning to Ireland that we are militarily weak”.

He believed it was designed as an international provocation as it is close to flight paths and underwater submarine cables.

Regarding the planned Russia military exercises, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said there was a “very worrying gap” in Ireland’s defences as the State has no primary radar system.

“Despite this being known certainly since 2015 when there was a white paper published, precious little has been done,” she said. “As I understand it no law is being broken by this exercise but we have to be very concerned that we don’t have adequate surveillance at this time.”

Responding to recent comments from Taoiseach Micheál Martin that Sinn Féin is a pro-Putin party, Ms McDonald told RTÉ’s This Week that the build-up of Russian troops on the Ukraine border is “extremely worrying”.

“I believe the answer to this point of conflict is not through war and conflict, it is through politics. We absolutely respect and everyone must respect the integrity of Ukranian territory,” she said, adding that her party has “zero tolerance… for any form of bullying, coercion or threats particularly by larger and very powerful states against their smaller neighbours.”

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2022-01-23 16:47:00Z
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