Ireland[/B] is sounding the alarm, demanding that Russia cancel naval exercises near its coast as evidence of its desire to de-escalate tensions with the West over the Ukrainian crisis.
Some military and cybersecurity analysts fear that the exercises, scheduled for the first days of February, may be a pretext for Russia to cut the undersea telecommunications fibers connecting America to Europe if it eventually invades Ukraine.
Where the exercises will take place
The waters chosen for the exercise, the so-called Porcupine Seabight, are located about 200 miles from Cork. The area is outside Ireland's territorial waters but within its exclusive economic zone.
Neutral Ireland has limited military forces, making it an ideal choice for Russian coastal military exercises, or "Europe's blind spot - the weakest link in Europe," as analyst Tom Clonan put it.
Show of force
Ireland's deputy prime minister, Leo Varadkar, said the choice of timing and location "may be a show of force to Britain and France" as it comes as Russia is deploying troops to the Ukrainian border. During the drills, the area will also be bypassed by transatlantic flights, as they are expected to include Kalibr missile tests.
"The argument that the Russians could make is that they conduct such exercises in international waters every year and that it is nothing but a coincidence," Varadkar told RTE radio station."
"The argument that the Russians could make is that they conduct such exercises in international waters every year and that it is nothing but a coincidence," Varadkar told RTE radio station.
"But whether it is a coincidence or not, at a time of escalating tensions, at a time of real concern about a possible war between Russia and Ukraine, we think they should be cancelled. It will be a goodwill gesture that will demonstrate that the Russians really do want de-escalation," he observed.
Addressing Irish fishermen, he urged them to be careful if they decide to stick to their commitment to sail through the Russian exercises.
"We are talking about the Russian navy, a large military force with nuclear weapons, with submarines," he warned.
Addressing Irish fishermen, he urged them to be careful if they decide to stick to their commitment to sail through the Russian exercises.
"We are talking about the Russian navy, a large military force with nuclear weapons, with submarines," he warned. "Let's not appear naive."
Source: in.gr/With information from Politico
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