Northern Ireland and Nato

Establishment view

Sir, – If ever there was a non sequitur, Gay Mitchell’s comment (Letters, April 19th) that “Clearly, a united Ireland would require Nato membership for the whole island” is one. While there might be an expectation among some people that this would be the case, and the current political establishment in the Republic might even welcome it, it is certainly not “required”.

If a united Ireland came about it would be because a majority in the North preferred to identify more with Ireland than Britain. If this is the case, and neutrality is still popular – as it is – among people in the Republic and nationalist-leaning people in the North, why does he assume that Nato membership would be required? Is it because that is what he and the Dublin establishment would like? – Yours, etc,

ROB FAIRMICHAEL,

Belfast.