Tánaiste Simon Harris has warned of a “changing global and European security context” ahead of his arrival at the Munich Security Conference.
It is has been a heady week in international political.
Following Trump’s phone call with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, the US President announced that peace talks would get underway with Ukraine.
But the markers put down by the US before the talks have even begun has shocked Europe.
Trump’s Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, said that Ukraine should forget about reclaiming Crimea, that NATO membership for Ukraine was off the table and that US troops would not be part of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
Hegseth also said that security guarantees for Ukraine should not include NATO’s Article 5. That means that if Russia were to invade again, the US would not be obligated to get involved.
Since those comments, both Trump and Hegseth have rowed back a bit.
But the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, accused Trump of appeasing Russia.
“We shouldn’t take anything off the table before the negotiations have even started because it plays to Russia’s court and it is what they want.
Why are we giving them everything that they want even before the negotiations have started, it’s appeasement, it has never worked.”
Aside from the war in Ukraine, the US also warned that it would be less interested in Europe in the future as it concentrates on migration from Mexico and the threats it sees from China.
Also this week, Trump has pursued a policy of imposing tariffs including on the European Union.
European Commission President von der Leyen has repeatedly said that the EU will react robustly against tariffs which are due to come into force on 12 March.
The Tánaiste will arrive in Germany with all of these issues in play. As well as ongoing concerns about the Middle East and Africa.
“Ireland’s commitment to a values-based foreign policy and to a policy of military neutrality does not insulate us from the impacts of a rapidly changing and volatile international security environment”, said Simon Harris ahead of the trip.
“In Munich, I will reaffirm Ireland’s continuing solidarity and support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression, as we approach the third anniversary of the full invasion. We remain committed to working to ensure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine. It will be important to ensure that Ukraine determines the terms, conditions and timelines for any peace agreement.”
“I will also have exchanges with Arab, European and transatlantic partners on the situation in Gaza and the wider Middle East. At a critical moment for the ceasefire and hostage release deal, we need to see further release of hostages, the continuation of much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and a clear framework for the return of those displaced. We must also maintain space for a political solution. The only just and sustainable peaceful solution, for both Palestinians and Israelis, is a two-State solution.”