Sir, – Russia has spent more than 25 years strategically acquiring global supply chains necessary for the supply of critical raw materials and energy to the West. They have wagered that Europe’s past overreliance on Russian assets would limit our commitment to our own security, interests and values.
Europe has overwhelmingly undermined this calculation since 2022. To do otherwise in the case of Aughinish Alumina would be a tremendous strategic error and a sign of weakness
This is not a simple case of the naive prioritising abstract values over material interests. The true naivety is believing that our interests and strategic position in the world can at convenient times be divorced from the outcome of the war in Ukraine.
We are a small island nation, our security comes from our economic interdependence, rule of law, respect by others for our sovereignty and values-based political alliances. Increasingly, we draw our core influence, prosperity and security from deep partnership with our European neighbours. Ukraine is fast becoming one of those partners.
READ MORE
Russia does not care for our interests, rules, rights or sovereignty. If the Kremlin’s revisionist foreign policy in post-Soviet Europe prevails, we could see the end of the European project as we know it. We would be poorer, weaker, more isolated and far more vulnerable to outside influence than at any point in our independent history.
The urgent task for our Government should be to seek alternative bauxite supplies for the Aughinish plant, under compulsory state control enabled by emergency legislation, and examine a joint purchase by EU stakeholders most dependent on its output.
Playing even the most minor of roles in enabling Russia’s war machine and domestic economy is utterly self-defeating. Continuing to ignore this reality would be deeply foolish and ruthlessly amoral. – Yours, etc.
ANDREW DUNNE,
Rialto,
Dublin 8.
