BRITAIN and the Republic of Ireland are set to renew and expand their decade-old defence cooperation agreement.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was originally signed in 2015 and has served as a foundation for bilateral defence collaboration, particularly in military training, intelligence sharing and cyber defence.
The renewed version of the agreement is expected to be finalised by 2026, following a series of high-level meetings between both governments throughout 2025.
Speaking in the House of Lords, Minister of State for Defence Lord Coaker confirmed that discussions have intensified this year, with senior defence officials from both countries meeting in Ireland and the UK.
“We are seeking to establish a new memorandum of understanding between the UK and the Irish Government by next year,” Lord Coaker said.
The decision to refresh the MoU was first outlined in the UK-Ireland 2030 Joint Statement, released after a bilateral summit in Liverpool in March.
The statement emphasised a renewed commitment to cooperation “informed by our co-guarantorship of the Good Friday Agreement” and framed by the need to address a “challenging geopolitical and international security environment.”
While Ireland remains a militarily neutral state and is not a member of NATO, both governments have emphasised the mutual benefits of defence cooperation.
The MoU has facilitated joint training exercises, capability development and crisis management operations.
British officials also confirmed that it has continued to provide support for monitoring threats such as Russian naval activity near Irish waters, an area where Ireland lacks adequate surveillance capabilities.
In 2023 a British frigate and helicopter shadowed a Russian submarine near Cork Harbour, outside Ireland’s territorial waters.
Similar concerns have been raised regarding the Russian spy ship Yantar, which has reportedly loitered over undersea communication cables within Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
British forces have played a key role in tracking such threats.
Luke Pollard, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence, noted that the MoU “underscores the breadth of our bilateral relationship with Ireland” and highlighted Britain’s commitment to defending critical undersea infrastructure for itself and its allies.
The renewal of the MoU has sparked debate in both countries, particularly regarding the nature of Ireland’s contributions.
Some British peers, including Baroness Hoey and Lord West of Spithead, have questioned whether Ireland benefits disproportionately from the arrangement without shouldering equivalent costs.
Independent Irish senator Gerard Craughwell echoed these concerns, describing the original 2015 agreement as one where Ireland had “little to bring to the table.”
However, he acknowledged that the agreement made strategic sense for both sides, especially given growing threats in the North Atlantic region.
“There is much that needs to be learnt, and I would expect that the MoU will be invaluable as Ireland ups its game in defence,” said Craughwell.
Lord Coaker responded by affirming Britain’s respect for Ireland’s neutrality while acknowledging that the global security landscape requires both nations to adapt.
“Ireland is also looking at establishing its own radar capability,” he said, noting that discussions are ongoing around maritime and cyber defence, as well as critical underwater infrastructure.
Britain and Ireland also plan to coordinate on broader strategic initiatives, such as the UN Peacebuilding Architecture Review and reforms in international justice and energy security.
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris recently announced a €16.5 million contract with Belgian firm Seyntex to deliver over 6,000 new body armour suits for Irish Defence Forces personnel.
Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee emphasised the strategic role of Northern Ireland, citing its geography and industrial capabilities as crucial to the renewed partnership.
Meanwhile, Baroness Smith of Newnham suggested aligning bilateral defence efforts within a broader UK-EU security framework.
The updated MoU, scheduled for finalisation in 2026, shows a stronger defence relationship between the UK and Ireland, one shaped by mutual interests and shared threats.
As Lord Coaker concluded, “That is something to be celebrated in Ireland and in the United Kingdom.”
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