IRELAND'S neutrality has been called into question after US Vice President Mike Pence visited American troops at a west of Ireland airport.
As Ireland has a policy of military neutrality, the use of the airport for the refueling of US military aircrafts to and from the Middle East has been a contentious issue for many years.
Vice President Mike Pence visited the US troops at Shannon Airport in Co Clare last weekend as they stopped to refuel on their way to Kuwait in the Middle East.
Mr Pence was travelling to the Middle East with stops in Egypt, Jordan and Israel.
Taking to Twitter Mr Pence said: "Honoured to see troops based out of Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado while refueling in Ireland. They are h1eaded to Kuwait for a six-month deployment."
Honored to see troops based out of Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado while refueling in Ireland. They are headed to Kuwait for a six month deployment. It’s disappointing to every American that Democrats in the Senate would shutdown the gov't when we have troops in harms way. pic.twitter.com/xzCh0H3V8K
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) January 20, 2018
However Sinn Féin spokesperson on Defence Aengus Ó Snodaigh said Mike Pence greeting US troops in Shannon shows how much Irish neutrality has been undermined by successive Irish Governments.
He said: “When you see the images of the US Vice President meeting US soldiers in full combat gear in an airport you automatically think that he is in Seattle or San Diego, not Shannon.
“That the US Vice-President could address US soldiers, supposedly on their way to the Middle East, in the civilian airport in Shannon, shows just how much successive Irish Governments have undermined Irish neutrality.
“These images are a stark reminder that the civilian Shannon Airport has virtually become a forward base for the US army to carry out military operations and exercises.
“Sinn Féin has always stated that the US military’s use of Shannon Airport makes a mockery of Irish neutrality and the Irish Government’s supposed commitment to neutrality."
The Vice President's presence in Ireland also prompted some backlash from people on Twitter.
Mike Pence we are a neutral country and do not want the US war machine in Ireland, you should not have addressed troops here and your troops should not be here in uniform on our territory.
— Sarah Clancy (@sarahmaintains) January 20, 2018
Others said he wasn't 'welcome' in Ireland.
Pence is not welcome in Ireland. Everything he represents has nothing in common with Irish people.
— SuzanneFitz ✊🏾☘️💜 (@suzannefitzp) January 20, 2018
why is nobody talking about the fact that mike pence was in shannon airport to greet american troops refueling? why do we even allow them refuel? we’re a supposed neutral country yet allow people who kill others without a reason in to refuel to go at it again???
— séamussssss (@seamusthewalrus) January 20, 2018
@OpinionLine96 considering Pence position on Israel and Palestine, it puts us in a terrible position. Then again you’re assuming this administration gives a toss about how it makes us look.
— kev (@kevosullivan07) January 22, 2018
Listeners to Cork 96FM's Opinion Line also expressed their disgust at the stopping of Mr Pence at the airport last weekend.
One listener said the VP was 'flexing his muscles.'
PENCE TROOP SPEECH IN SHANNON: Viv says that what Vice-President Pence was doing was flexing his muscles. He knew what he was doing and he did it because he knew he could do it.
— 96fm Opinion Line (@OpinionLine96) January 22, 2018
