Ireland is reassessing its defence strategy, particularly regarding its extensive maritime territory, which is ten times the size of its land mass. This shift follows increased Russian presence in Irish waters, including visits by the Russian spy ship Yantar.
In 2024, the Yantar, believed to be capable of attaching spy equipment to undersea cables, was observed over a gas pipeline connecting Ireland and the UK in the Irish Sea. More recently, Irish officials have noted a rise in Russian shadow fleet vessels in the north Atlantic, reportedly to avoid British and French waters where controls have been tightened.
Ireland's foreign minister, Helen McEntee, stated earlier this month that security is a priority during Ireland's six-month EU presidency, aiming to work with other European nations on defending critical infrastructure. In February, Ireland published its first maritime strategy to address "sea blindness" and ensure the defence of its maritime domain, including critical undersea infrastructure.
Despite a pledged €1.7bn in defence capital spending for 2026-30, a 55% increase, Ireland remains the lowest defence spender in the EU. In 2024, it spent 0.2% of its GDP on defence, significantly below the 1.3% EU average.