Michael D Higgins says Nato calls for countries to hike defence spending are 'appalling'

President Michael D Higgins described the rise in defence spending across the world to $2.44trn as 'shocking'. Picture: Colin Keegan/ Collins

President Michael D Higgins has said calls by Nato for alliance countries to hike defence spending are “appalling” and rebuked the size of global military spending.

In a speech at the BT Young Scientists exhibition, Mr Higgins described the rise in defence spending across the world to $2.44trn as “shocking”. He contrasted it with the number of people who are suffering from hunger rising by 200 million.

The president said while the results of scientific achievement had “revolutionised life” and enabled social change, misuse of scientific knowledge “has been and can be disastrous for us all”.

“History shows us that, when being exercised and practised in the wrong hands or funded by those of authoritarian tendency for insidious purposes, science can produce catastrophic results,” Mr Higgins said.

The president said science could be used to “generate ever-more sophisticated weapons and instruments of death and destruction that are used to generate fear for populations”, while also supporting the military-industrial complex for profit.

He added this could be at the cost of “undermining democratic accountability through corruption, unaccountable lobbying, and bribery in continents where millions are starving and societies are being divided over access to resources for life itself”.

“It is important that we respond to this use of science and the rhetoric that calls for war as a state of mind, including to the recent appalling comments from Nato calling for ever-more armaments spending to be achieved,” Mr Higgins added.

In particular, he referred to comments made by Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte, who last month called on Nato countries to hike defence spending and “accept to make sacrifices” that include cuts to health, pensions and social welfare spending.

“We must envisage with those of different and diverse outlook and work for peace, I suggest,” Mr Higgins said.

War in Gaza

The president also referred to the ongoing war in Gaza, which has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead amid bombardment from the Israeli military.

He said the world had the capacity to eliminate global poverty, but that “preparing for war has driven it off the agenda”.

“As I wrote this speech, six infants under four weeks old had died of hypothermia in their tents in Gaza. Having been displaced three times, the grieving father of twins said, 'there were eight of us, and we had only four blankets',” Mr Higgins said.

“Available waterproof tents, food and clothing were present in the region, but were not allowed access to starving families in sub-zero conditions.

“Now is the time to rethink the relationship between science and society in its multiple manifestations.” 

He added young scientists had a responsibility, and opportunities, to be conscientious to where their work is applied.

“Their moral choice has repercussions for us all,” he added.

The president praised the work of the young scientists participating in the exhibition, saying they will be “enthusiastic global citizens” which is positive for achieving a “sustainable and cohesive future on our island” as well as on the planet.