Originally Posted by
Startledgrapefruit
There is no threat really
Except for the Russians might invade Ireland and use it as a staging post to invade the UK like the Germans planned in the war , which is unlikely
I think most of the Irish are willing to have the UK and France defend them when required.
The exception to most Irish would be the IRA , sorry Sinn fein who hate everything thing British and would welcome everyone including the Mysterons if they thought it would further their cause.
So I just think it's one of the election time things to reassure the locals the government cares.
Ulikely to be an election issue "south of the border". The Shinners are quite partial to the Russians (being as they are a very left of left socalist party ... very much in a similar ball park to Mr. Corbyn).
WRT a threat, one could always imagine a potential enemy if required ....Well, the Chinese are demonstrating that there is still a belief in the value of naval power with the construction of bases throughout the South China Sea and building of carrier capabilities, while both the Royal Navy and US Navy are rolling out new generation carriers with 5th generation aircraft.
Russia has always, possibly rightly, felt that its ability to project a global presence has been hampered by its lack of all year round ports for its navy, with winter limiting access to bases for much of its fleet. Since the time of Peter The Great, Russia has been on quest for warm water ports. The grabbing of Crimea and the naval facilities at Sevastopol underlines that, as does the alliance with Syria for the base at Tartus. Both actions show that the leadership of the county is prepared to take significant military risks and accept significant economic and political fallout to secure year round naval capabilities. The Baltic states are certianly very worred about the intentions of their neighbour.
Almost 100 years ago, as the United Kingdom was breaking up, the government of the rump of the UK negotiated a deal with the leaders of what would become The Irish Free State (the precursor to modern day Ireland) for the retention of 3 deep water naval facilities around the island of Ireland, Berehaven (one of the deepest natural inlets in the world) and Cobh in Cork along with Lough Swilly in Donegal, collectivly known as the Treaty Ports. The UK saw the strategic value of these locations for large scale naval operations. Perhaps today others look at their potential too.
Or maybe that’s just imagining a threat.
JAS