“Irish Neutrality in the 21st Century: Identity, Security, and Strategic Choice”

In the final episode of this three-part series on neutrality in Ireland, I’m joined by Professor Andrew Cottey (UCC) and Dr Ed Burke (UCD) to examine what Irish neutrality means in the 21st century.Moving from the historical foundations explored in previous episodes, this discussion focuses on the contemporary strategic, political, and legal debates surrounding Irish neutrality and military non-alignment.We examine whether Ireland is legally neutral, how neutrality is understood across Irish political and public discourse, and the distinction between traditional neutrality, military non-alignment, peacekeeping, and the Triple Lock mechanism.The episode also explores Ireland’s relationship with the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy, including PESCO and Article 42.7, and asks whether deeper European defence cooperation challenges traditional understandings of Irish neutrality.A major focus of the discussion concerns Ireland’s growing security vulnerabilities, including maritime surveillance gaps, the protection of critical underwater infrastructure, airspace security, increased geopolitical tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and questions surrounding Ireland’s reliance on partners for elements of national defence.Professor Cottey and Dr Burke also examine how Irish neutrality has become deeply connected to national identity and political culture, while asking whether Ireland’s current position remains strategically coherent in an increasingly unstable international environment.The episode concludes by exploring three possible futures for Irish neutrality:• maintaining the current policy,• reforming aspects of neutrality and defence policy,• or moving towards a formal alliance structure in the future.Rather than advocating a single position, the discussion seeks to unpack the competing interpretations, assumptions, and strategic realities shaping the debate on Irish neutrality today.