Ireland is considering asking France for help in securing its presidency of the European Union

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Ireland is considering requesting assistance from major European nations during its presidency of the European Union, scheduled for July 2026, with the aim of ensuring enhanced security. Among the measures under consideration is the deployment of a French warship to Dublin, capable of providing air defense with its anti-aircraft missiles, following a courtesy visit by the ship FS Bretagne this month.

Faced with an increase in high-level meetings—more than 20 are scheduled for 2026, welcoming European heads of state and ministers in a tense security context—the Irish government has already committed to the accelerated acquisition of a drone defense system. This decision follows incidents during the Danish presidency, where illegal drone activity was reported and France and Germany deployed their own counter-drone teams and equipment.

The Irish Ministry of Defense plans to quickly install an anti-drone battery at Baldonnel Air Base, aimed in particular at protecting the arrival of official delegations. This measure is part of a larger project to purchase modern military radar. At the police level, collaboration with other member countries has intensified, with Irish forces sending delegations to Brussels and Copenhagen to analyze the security measures adopted at similar events.

The Irish presidency, estimated to cost several hundred million euros, is mobilizing significant resources, including a security budget currently being finalized and a planned request for additional police and financial support. If the government intends to ensure the smooth running of European Political Community events and meetings, it is preparing to deploy new resources to respond to the growing challenge posed by aerial threats and drone activity in European airspace. The Irish Times

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