Dan O’Brien: Ireland must be prepared to choose sides in the new cold war

At the turn of the last century, the US was the driving force behind globalisation and Tony Blair was trying to steer Britain closer to Europe by joining the euro.

Back then, the European Union did less than it does now, and Ireland had fewer strains with other member countries over issues such as corporation tax and the regulation of Big Tech. Further afield, Russia was diminished and in turmoil, while China was a developing ...