Ireland ‘playing with fire’ for opening debate on military neutrality, says president

Michael D Higgins’ comments have intensified the debate about Ireland’s military neutrality in the Putin era. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action/Reuters

Ireland’s president has rebuked the government for launching a debate about the country’s longstanding military neutrality and the possibility of joining Nato, saying ministers were “playing with fire”.

Michael D Higgins accused the government of a dangerous “drift” from a cornerstone of Irish foreign policy and said it risked “burying” Ireland in other people’s agendas.