Militarisation of Europe is a real prospect we should all be very fearful of

The column by Ana Palacio (former Senior Vice-President of the World Bank) ‘Fresh narrative needed for Europe’s stalled security strategy’ in the Irish Examiner on Friday, February 11 has all the hallmarks of another opening salvo by ‘the powers that be’ towards the militarisation of Europe.

Fearful of the United Kingdom exiting the EU, together with its armoury which includes nuclear submarines and Trident missiles, those powerbrokers will be ratcheting up their ‘Project Fear’ and firing salvos of ‘security’ rhetoric at all and sundry in the hope that Brexit will not happen and that EU militarisation will be accepted by all European citizens.

Already many strategically-positioned EU countries are locked into the Union by huge debt, including Ireland, and should they protest too much they will be doing so with one hand tied behind their backs.

Meanwhile those European countries with arms-manufacturing capabilities (and others), will be standing by in eager anticipation.

Perhaps the grotesque sight of a United States of Europe army marching down the Champs-Élysées will become reality after all.

Then we should be fearful.

Joe Brennan

Ballinspittle

Co Cork