Is it time to join Nato

I fully agree that we should join NATO. At least we'll have powerful friends if Russia ever decide to attack us. People go on about the Belgrade air strikes in 1999, but there would've been no bombs dropped on Belgrade if it wasn't for ethnic cleansing by the serbs in the Kosovo reagion.

There is none. The only way Russia would attack Ireland is if it was a member of NATO and NATO attacked Russia, which is more likely.

It doesn't have to be straight after. Look at Ukraine, why did Russia invade Ukraine? Put aside the restoring the homeland nonsense.

The strategic advantage in invading Ukraine successfully was advancing towards NATO through a neutral country. Hence we have seen Sweden and Finland move to join NATO to avoid being next. If Ukraine had been annexed quickly, Moldova would have been next.

The question after that for Russia is whether Serbia or Ireland coming under their sphere of influence is most likely. You only need to look at the influence that Russia have built up over our left-wing politicians with the clowns Daly and Wallace being the most prominent example and Michael D's intervention last week being the silliest. Russia would love a SF-led left-wing government in Ireland sympathetic to its cause.

Before directly attacking NATO, take out all the non-members, just like Germany moved in the 1930s to annex "friendly" countries first. Those that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Russia is this generation's 1930s Germany.

Edit: Thankfully, the mods took action and deleted the Ukrainian propaganda video that was mocking the innocent Russian man who was unfortunately eaten by a shark. Nice to see that this site hasn't yet devolved down to the level of discourse you would expect on a shithole such as Twitter. If you want to post offensive names stick to Twitter and share them with the rest of the NAFO idiots.

To be honest, I doubt the Americans have any real intent of supplying Abrams tanks to Ukraine. The Americans are happy that European nations have depleted their arsenals by supplying stuff to Ukraine. I'm sure they are hopeful that countries will now be hesitant to buy or use Leopard tanks and instead will switch over to the Abrams.

Puny people benefiting from this conflict are some of arms companies.

I think we should be and know which way I would vote.

How would you both?

Absolutely although it'll be a No from me.

Yes from me also and I would also vote no.

although I do think we should have a marked increase in budget for our defence forces, navy, coastguard and such seeing as we are an island.

We elect governments to govern. That means sometimes actually governing and making tough decisions in the national interest.

I don't think any government should be outsourcing something as fundamental as defence to the public.

The Irish public have not proven themselves astute on this at all. The so-called "triple lock" is the prime example of emotive stupidity at it's finest. That was introduced to nudge the public in to accepting the Nice treaty.

In doing so and voting for the Nice treaty they gave a veto over the deployment of our own defence forces to China, to Russia and other security council members.

It wouldn't fill you with confidence as to the publics grasp of these types of issues.

Maybe Russia doing as it wants with our subsea cables might be the wake up call people need.

There is a distinction between joining NATO and looking after our own back yard.

I'm much more interested in the latter than joining NATO.

We are Europe's weakest link. I don't see the upside of that.

Yes to having a say and a firm NO to joining

the triple lock has been there long before Nice, brought in by government

The Nice thing was a change to the constitution about joining an EU defence force

it appears you might be the weakest link 😂

Yes to a vote

and

No to NATO

Would be interesting to hear people's reasons for voting no to joining NATO.