Relying on neighbours: foreign defenders step in to protect State in dangerous times
The Irish government has utilized French and UK naval vessels to provide security for high-profile EU meetings in Dublin. These foreign warships were deployed to fill a gap in Ireland's own long-range air defense capabilities.
Why it matters
It highlights Ireland's reliance on international partners for national security and the growing concern over drone threats to political leaders.
The presence of the French warship Aquitaine off the coast of Dublin in early July was not a very well-kept secret.
The ship came to provide security during the arrival of heads of state in the capital to mark Ireland taking over the six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union .
As is standard for naval ships on active operations, it had its publicly facing location transponder switched off.
But it hardly mattered – the 142-metre-long frigate was easily visible to anyone flying overhead, including civilian passengers flying into Dublin Airport .
It was a similar situation when a UK frigate arrived about 32km off the Irish coast late last week ahead of a meeting of EU defence and foreign affairs ministers in Co Wicklow.
The ship also concealed its location from open-source trackers, but the Merlin helicopter operating from its deck kept its transponder turned on.
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