We should move forward and end the farce of our "convenience store" brand of neutrality, which is cheap – as words are – available when needed and without much substance. It has served us well in the past, but it is time to move forward and align ourselves with the EU for mutual defence. In that way, the decision will be ours and the demise of our neutrality will be of our design and will not be forced on us in unfavourable terms. Therein lies the crux of the matter; we have a choice, but it must be a real choice. We will not be forced to abandon our neutral status but if we choose to remain militarily unaligned, we will be forced to accept the consequences.