NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich was in Ireland this week to meet with Defence Minister Thomas Byrne.
Minister Byrne welcomed General Grynkewich to Dublin yesterday afternoon (August 12) where he visited the Department of Defence.
Their meeting tackled a range of topics, including their ongoing relationship with NATO and neutral military status.
“My meeting with General Grynkewich provided an opportune moment to discuss Ireland’s engagement with NATO, through Partnership for Peace (PfP), which has provided our Defences Forces with valuable opportunities since 1999,” Minister Byrne said.
Minister Byrne welcomed General Grynkewich to Dublin“Ireland’s relationship with NATO through the Partnership for Peace Programme is of high value, particularly in relation to access to military training and education," he added.
“Access to this training and education enables the Defence Forces to attain best practice and allows for interoperability, when working alongside other nations on overseas missions, which is a key component of force protection.”
General Grynkewich visited the Department of Defence yesterday afternoonHe added: “Ireland’s contribution to overseas peacekeeping missions, including the NATO-led and UN-mandated KFOR Mission in Kosovo, which I visited last year, is a prime example our existing cooperation together.”
Ireland joined the PfP to enhance its defence forces' ability to work with other professional military forces and to support their participation in international peacekeeping and peace-support operations.
The nation's policy of military neutrality is based on “non-membership of military alliances and non-participation in common or mutual defence arrangements”, Minister Byrne’s office explained.
“The global security context obliges Ireland to take both our own security and our responsibility towards our like-minded partners more seriously than ever,” they added.
“For this reason, the Government is committed to broadening and deepening Ireland’s international security engagement with key bilateral as well as multilateral partners, including the EU, UN and NATO.”
Yesterday’s meeting also covered Ireland’s EU Presidency.
“Ireland has a longstanding policy of international cooperation, be it through our EU and UN membership, or through our relationship with NATO under Partnership for Peace over the past twenty-seven years,” Minister Byrne said.
“As Minister of State for Defence, I welcome this partnership which is line with our military neutrality, and enhances the capabilities of our Defence Forces - including in its valuable peacekeeping work.”
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See More: EU, Ireland, Military Neutrality, NATO
