Alleged Russian drone incident sparks NATO debate in neutral Ireland

Ireland has been drawn into an intensifying debate over its long-standing policy of military neutrality following reports that Russian military-grade drones entered Irish airspace during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s official visit to Dublin in November.

The incident, which allegedly involved drones shadowing Zelenskyy’s aircraft, has reignited concerns about Ireland’s security vulnerabilities and raised fresh questions about possible NATO membership, Euractiv reports.

Irish media and public discourse have focused on what many see as a stark reminder that Ireland lacks its own comprehensive air and maritime defence capabilities. Instead, the country relies heavily on security coverage provided by the British Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The issue is particularly sensitive given Ireland’s strategic importance: critical transatlantic data cables pass through its territorial waters, and Shannon Airport serves as a major transit hub for US and NATO forces.

The drone incident has sharpened scrutiny of Ireland’s neutrality and fueled discussion about whether joining NATO could offer stronger protection. Opinion polls suggest that around one-third of the Irish population now supports NATO membership, while another third remains undecided.

The debate has exposed deep political divisions, particularly on the left. A vocal group of politicians and activists—primarily associated with Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, and People Before Profit (PBP)—have questioned whether the drones were Russian at all, with some suggesting alternative explanations or arguing that Zelenskyy should not have visited what they describe as a “principally neutral” country. These figures are among NATO’s most outspoken critics in Ireland and have been accused by opponents of downplaying or excusing Russia’s actions.

Irish President Catherine Connolly, regarded by some observers as one of the most left-wing democratically elected heads of state, has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but has frequently qualified her criticism by arguing that NATO expansion was “provocative,” a position that resonates with Kremlin narratives.

Dan O’Brien, chief economist at Dublin’s Institute of International and European Affairs, said discussion of Ukraine and Russia often attracts coordinated online interference. “Whenever I mentioned Ukraine, swarms of Russian trolls immediately descended on my account,” he said, adding that many critics of NATO cling to “the illusion that Ireland is so far away and so peaceful that Russia has no reason to attack it.”

From the perspective of NATO’s eastern members, such assumptions are dangerously misguided. Countries such as Poland and Germany have already reported acts of sabotage targeting infrastructure, and analysts warn that the alleged drone incursion into Irish airspace was a calculated signal. According to this view, the incident was intended as a reminder that Ireland’s neutrality does not guarantee immunity from external threats.

By Vafa Guliyeva