Simon Harris, Ireland’s Tánaiste, has called for a significant increase in the country’s military spending, suggesting that the annual defence budget should reach approximately €3 billion in the coming years.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Irish Examiner during the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa, Harris stated that the current target of €1.5 billion should be considered “the floor” rather than the ceiling for defence spending.
The Tánaiste’s comments mark a notable shift in Ireland’s approach to military expenditure, potentially signaling a more robust defense strategy in response to evolving global security challenges.
Harris also addressed domestic priorities during the interview, emphasizing that State bodies would need to demonstrate how their increased budgets would contribute to addressing Ireland’s housing crisis. This approach suggests a new focus on accountability in public spending.
According to The Irish Examiner, Looking ahead to the upcoming St Patrick’s Day celebrations, the Tánaiste stressed the importance of using Irish ministerial visits to the United States as an opportunity to engage with American politicians on trade relations. Harris emphasized the need to remind U.S. officials that “trade is a two-way street,” highlighting Ireland’s interest in maintaining balanced economic relationships with its American partners.
The proposed increase in defence spending would represent one of the most significant expansions of Ireland’s military budget in recent history, potentially affecting various aspects of the country’s defense capabilities, including personnel, equipment, and infrastructure.
These statements from the Tánaiste come at a time when many European nations are reassessing their defense strategies and spending levels in response to changing global security dynamics.