- Secretary of State for Defence and Irish Minister for Defence
Helen McEntee sign refreshed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to
strengthen bilateral defence cooperation.
- Updated MoU will focus on enhanced maritime cooperation,
cyber defence, air domain information sharing, and increased
joint procurement.
- Comes as the Prime Minister meets Taoiseach Micheál Martin in
Cork for the UK-Ireland Leaders' Summit.
The UK and Ireland will be better protected against common
threats as the two nations sign a refreshed Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral defence cooperation.
The Secretary of State for Defence and Irish Minister for Defence
Helen McEntee have signed an updated MoU focusing on enhanced
maritime cooperation, cyber defence, air domain information
sharing, and increased joint procurement.
The refreshed MoU will see the UK Armed Forces and the Irish
Defence Forces strengthen their maritime security cooperation to
better protect critical undersea infrastructure and develop
improved response mechanisms to maritime security incidents.
Under the MoU, both governments will also explore opportunities
for joint procurement of military equipment and new
Government-to-Government sales.
In the air and cyber domain, the UK and Ireland will boost their
information sharing, improve joint situational awareness, and
increase resilience against threats.
It comes as the Prime Minister meets his Irish counterpart
Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Cork for the UK-Ireland Leaders'
Summit.
Defence Secretary MP said:
“The UK and Ireland share a long history of defence cooperation —
from crisis management and humanitarian operations to training,
military education and staff exchanges.
“This rebooted Memorandum of Understanding modernises our
framework for cooperation on areas critical to both our nations'
security, in particular to counter the growing undersea and cyber
threats we share.”
Irish Minister for Defence Helen McEntee TD
said:
“It is appropriate that, after ten years, we take the opportunity
to refresh our Memorandum of Understanding and provide for a
particular focus in such areas as maritime, cyber defence, air
information sharing and joint procurement initiatives.
“There will also be a continued focus on the already existing
Defence co-operation arrangements between Ireland and the UK on a
more formal and transparent footing.”
In addition, the MOU emphasises continued collaboration in UN
peacekeeping, crisis management, and humanitarian operations,
enhanced cooperation on training and military education
exchanges, and continued support for and joint opportunities in
Ukraine as members of the Coalition of the Willing.
This refreshed MoU replaces the previous 2015 agreement signed by
then Defence Secretary and Minister Simon Coveney.
It fulfils the commitment made by the Prime Minister and the
Taoiseach at the 2025 UK–Ireland Leaders' Summit to update the
MoU in line with the strengthened and evolving partnership
between both countries.
In an era of rising threats to both nations, this modernised MoU
provides a stronger, more agile foundation for cooperation, while
respecting the distinct defence and security policies of both
countries.
