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Ireland plans to buy first fighter jets in 50 years

Ireland’s planned purchase of combat jets and the development of a long-overdue national radar system mark a historic turning point in the country’s approach to air defence, ending decades of reliance on the United Kingdom to protect Irish skies.

Since 1998, when the Irish Air Corps disbanded its Light Strike Squadron, which operated aging French Fouga CM170 Magister jets, Ireland has had no combat jets. The country also lacks a primary radar system. Without these capabilities, a “secret bilateral pact” has seen the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) tasked with intercepting and responding to aerial threats in Irish airspace.

According to former Irish Air Corps head General Ralph James, this reliance on a foreign power, coupled with Ireland’s lack of radar coverage, has made the country “probably the most vulnerable” in Europe. Speaking at the Slándáil 2020 security summit, James warned that neutrality alone was not a defence strategy, stressing that Ireland must be able to deny its airspace to both sides in any future conflict.

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@QuinnErickson

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Trump condemns Zelensky remarks that war end is 'far away'

A statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying a deal to end the war with Russia was "very far away" has drawn a furious response by Donald Trump.

"America will not put up with it for much longer," the US president said in a social media post, before accusing Zelensky of not wanting peace.

A summit of mostly European leaders in London on Sunday agreed a four-point plan to guarantee Ukraine's defence in the event of a peace deal with Russia.

"Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?" Trump said, apparently referring to the summit held two days after his fiery clash with Zelensky at the Oval Office.

The summit - hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer - was intended as a show of support for Ukraine and an attempt to reduce differences between Western countries over Ukraine.

Britain and France said they were working on a European-led solution to the conflict.

After the meeting, Zelensky said a deal to end the war between Ukraine and Russia was "still very, very far away".

He added that he expected the US to continue backing Ukraine despite his own fraught relations with Trump.

"I believe that Ukraine has a strong enough partnership with the United States of America," Zelensky said late on Sunday.
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@QuinnErickson

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Israel says it is conducting strikes in southern Syria.

Intervention comes hours after FM called Syrian regime “a Jihadist Islamic terrorist group” that “took control by force” and “has been killing minorities”

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@RykerClark97