NATO maritime patrol aircraft monitoring waters near Ireland

The Sunday Times said that Boeing Poseidon P-8 planes from Britain and Norway, which monitored areas between Sligo and Donegal, and a French Bréguet 1150 Atlantic plane, which flew off the coast of Clare, were among the aircraft involved in the mission.

These planes are well renowned for their ability to track submarines, particularly the Poseidon P-8. The seriousness with which these countries regard the possible threat posed by Russian submarines in the area is demonstrated by this concerted effort.

Readers should be aware that Ireland’s lack of marine defensive capabilities has made the participation of its friends necessary, and that this has very serious repercussions for the country.

The Strategic Position and Vulnerabilities of Ireland

Because of its location in the North Atlantic, Ireland is at the centre of a massive network of submerged fiber-optic cables that transport 97% of all global internet and communication traffic. These cables, which connect Europe and North America, are essential to international communications. The security of these infrastructures, which span more than 550 cables and 1.4 million km, is crucial for both Ireland and the rest of the world.

In light of previous occurrences, the suspected Russian presence near the Irish coast is especially concerning. The Russian spy ship Yantar was sighted in August 2021 close to the AEConnect-1 underwater cable and the coast of Ireland.

escalating worries and military reactions
In the run-up to the European elections, European security services suspect that Russia is planning acts of sabotage in EU member states. In order to prevent such attacks and guarantee the protection of critical infrastructure, NATO is presently conducting a surveillance operation.

Ireland has made a significant contribution to international military drills. Irish servicemen recently took part in NATO-backed naval exercises off the Portuguese coast of Sesimbra as observers. Underwater drones were used in these exercises, which highlight the possibility of international cooperation in safeguarding vital underwater infrastructure.