The bloc must hold exercises in Irish-controlled waters, whether Dublin agreed or not, Chris Parry has said

The potential unification of Ireland would be a major blow to the West's security as it could allow Russia and China to expand their reach in the North Atlantic, a former NATO commander has warned.

Speaking at a briefing for members of Parliament and the House of Lords on Wednesday, retired British Rear Admiral Chris Parry argued that if the UK were to lose its foothold in Northern Ireland, it would present a major opportunity for Moscow and Beijing.

He noted that the waters between Northern Ireland and Scotland are essential for Britain's deployment of its nuclear-armed submarines, describing it as "critical to our strategic deterrent." "With a united Ireland, there is no guarantee we could deploy our ballistic missiles," Parry said.

He also suggested that a potential Irish unification would enable NATO adversaries to threaten critical undersea cables.

"The UK needs to calibrate the threat to itself of a supine Republic of Ireland. My view is that the best way to help Ireland now is to increase NATO and Allied activity in Ireland's economic zone waters," he said.

The retired admiral went so far as to suggest that NATO should hold exercises in Irish-controlled waters "whether Dublin agreed or not," asserting that the bloc must be prepared to "fish in Irish waters for our potential opponents." He said the Republic should move toward closer military cooperation with NATO and renounce neutrality.

"If anyone attacks Britain, they will attack Ireland...Neutrality cannot be seen as conscientious objection any more. If you are part of the free world, you have to be prepared to defend it. The Republic needs to reduce its vulnerabilities," he stated.

Moscow has consistently rejected claims that it plans to attack NATO as "nonsense".

Ireland has been militarily neutral since gaining independence in 1921, and is not a NATO member but cooperates with the bloc.

The idea of Irish reunification - merging the Republic of Ireland with Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK - is permitted under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. The accord ended a three-decade-long stand-off between Irish nationalists and pro-British unionists by establishing a power-sharing government in Belfast and confirming that Northern Ireland's status can change only if a majority there votes for it.

(RT.com)