Ireland tells Russia that naval exercises off our coast 'not welcome'

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Coveney has told Russia that their military exercise off the Irish coast is not welcome. But the minister admits they are legal.

The Government has told Russia that naval exercises off the Irish coast are "not welcome", but Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has accepted that they are legal.

Russian naval exercises are due to take place in early February, approximately 240km off the southwest coast and within Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) but not in Ireland’s territorial waters.