Prime Minister Leo Varadkar denies Ireland’s membership in NATO

Dublin, Aug 3 (Prensa Latina) Ireland does not intend to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and follow the example of Sweden and Finland, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said in an interview on local television on Thursday.

August 3, 2023
11:35

Ireland will remain outside NATO despite the Nordic countries’ decision to join the alliance, Varadkar pointed out.

The official pointed out that Ireland will not become a significant military power and never be a major asset to the bloc if it ever joins.

The prime minister also defended that Ireland only supplies non-lethal equipment and humanitarian aid.

According to local analysts, Ireland’s relative distance from continental Europe and its history as a British colony underlie the country’s neutrality.

Finland became the 31st NATO member on April 4, while Sweden’s application remains blocked by Hungary and Türkiye.

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