Ireland tells Russia live fire naval exercise is 'not welcome'

Ireland tells Russia live-fire naval exercise is 'not welcome'. Ireland has told Russia its plans to host live-fire naval exercises off the country's coast are "not welcome". But the Irish defence minister said the country had no power to stop it. It comes amid rising tensions over a build-up of Russia's military forces on the Ukraine border and threats of consequences for any invasion from the US and its allies. Ireland, however, has a long-standing policy of military neutrality and is not part of the Nato military alliance. Simon Coveney, who holds both the foreign and defence ministerial briefs, told journalists in Brussels that the Irish government had received a notification from Russia about the planned military exercises. They are due to take place about 240km (150 miles) off the south-west coast of Ireland, he said. "That is in international waters but it is also part of the exclusive economic zone of Ireland," he explained. It is also within Ireland's air space, and flights will have to be diverted to avoid the area.