Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are not aligned militarily but we are absolutely entitled to take sides. In my view, if we had not taken sides in this war we would effectively be taking the side of the oppressor. I do not believe the Irish people would support that course of action.

The most recent Foreign Affairs Council in defence ministers' format took place in Brussels on 15 November. There were three items on the agenda: a working session on current affairs; a working session on defence capabilities and operational realities; and a working lunch focusing on an informal exchange of views with the Minister of Defence of Ukraine and the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg.

The current affairs session covered a range of topics including: the EU military assistance mission in support of Ukraine; possible Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, engagement in Niger; Operation Atalanta; the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity; and the current financial situation of the European Peace Facility.

The second working session marked the first annual ministerial discussion on defence capabilities and operational realities, as committed to in the framework of the Strategic Compass.

The meeting closed with a working lunch and informal exchange of views focusing on Russian aggression against Ukraine, including its global implications. The Ukrainian Minister of Defence participated by video teleconference to brief Ministers on the latest developments as well as Ukrainian priorities and needs on the ground.

In advance of the Foreign Affairs Council in defence ministers' format, I attended a meeting of the European Defence Agency steering board where Ministers exchanged views on the main findings of the 2022 Coordinated Annual Review on Defence, CARD, report in the areas of defence spending, defence planning and defence co-operation.

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