The UK and Ireland continue to strengthen their defence ties under a 2015 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), according to the Ministry of Defence.
Responding to a written question from Dave Doogan MP of the Scottish National Party, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Luke Pollard highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the two nations in multiple areas of defence and security.
Pollard stated that the MOU “underscores the breadth of our bilateral relationship with Ireland.” He outlined key areas of cooperation that have been enhanced since the agreement was signed, including:
- Information exchange
- Joint exercises and training
- Participation in UN-mandated international peacekeeping missions
- Crisis management operations
- Capability development
- Cyber defence and security
Pollard also noted that “many other areas of cooperation” continue to develop under the agreement, reinforcing the close relationship between the two countries.
The Ministry of Defence maintains ongoing oversight of the MOU’s implementation, with Pollard confirming that the effectiveness of these arrangements is kept under “regular review, including through staff talks.”
This structured review process ensures that both nations can adapt their cooperation to evolving security challenges and continue to benefit from shared expertise in defence operations.
While Ireland remains a neutral state with no formal military alliance, its defence collaboration with the UK has increased in response to emerging threats such as cyberattacks and international security challenges.
What “defence capabilities” does the Republic even have, let alone sharing with us? The sharing seems mostly in the other direction…
The ability to transit the ROI airspace to intercept Russian and Hijacked aircraft? Because I don’t see the Irish having the ability to go ‘Highway to the Blarney Stone’
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When it comes to defence, I don’t share any of the optimism expressed in this article. With its west and southwest facing Atlantic coast, and one of the largest seabed territories in Europe, Ireland occupies a key strategic location. It overlooks sea lanes and underwater infrastructure on which it and its fellow EU states rely, but makes very little effort to police these assets. Through its policy of military neutrality and self-imposed lack of military capability, Ireland appears content to rely on other nations to shield it. Most specifically, it depends on NATO and on the UK, as the latter protects its air space. Why would Ireland wish to join NATO and match the requirement to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence when it can languish at the very bottom of the European defence table, spending merely 0.24% of its GDP on security? The reason could be financial, but in our increasingly disordered and dangerous world this attitude is surely parochial, selfish and even reckless.
As US support for Europe recedes and, by design or default, underpins war-mongering Russia, is this not the time for Ireland to grow up and face up to threats to Europe’s collective security? If I were to draw a geopolitical cartoon, it would show Ireland crouching behind its West European friends, counting its blessings, whilst countries such as Finland and Sweden, as new members of NATO, plus Poland and the small Baltic States take off their jackets to take on a bullying Russia.
The Romans were right: Si vis pacem, para bellum. Why is it taking Ireland so long to realise this?
There have been updates in Ireland as to the Level of ambition that the Irish government is aiming for the defence forces.
A lot of the long term plans for the next decade have been effectively halved. The Army and Air Corps procurements in new (and more) armored vehicles and combat support helos. Gripen fighter jets also to maybe based at Shannon is also actively being looked at.
The Irish Navy has plans for 12 vessels with some of them with ASW/AA ability. Those plans are vague to the public but the funding is being committed.
This UKDJ article is about the collaboration between the defence forces of the Republic and the Kingdom as the UK sees active procurement and better kit coming to the Irish Defence Forces.
I think having a Russian submarine surface undetected off your coastline, but captured on video by local fisherman. Has been a wake up call. The Irish Navy does not have any ASW capability, which is why a T23 was rushed to the area.
Similarly the whole of the west coast of Ireland is pretty much blind to any aircraft not transmitting on their IFF or ADS-B. As there are no long range search radars covering this area.
I to have read that the Irish Government are finally waking up and putting their hands in their pockets to increase defence funding. But have yet to read if they are looking at long range radar, beside generating an ASW and QRA capability. I would like to be optimistic in this regard.
The radar contract is soon, 3 sets, 2 West Coast, 1 Midlands is the reports currently, main competitors are 2 American companies, 1 Swedish and 1 French, so Saab and Thales most likely from Europe, and given previous procurement history the front runners.
R of I. More interested in “wealth” creation than facing its responsibilities. Nothing to see here, move along.
With Ireland’s recruitment problems being even worse than the UK’s, perhaps they should concentrate on unmanned systems, maybe joining Project Cabot or operating UAS to intercept wandering Russian bombers.
The US and EU have allowed RoI to rebuild their economy by having incredibly low tax rates and become effectively an offshore tax haven sucking cash and taxes out of European economies. It’s time the US and EU had a word with their friends in Dublin about taking some responsibility and spending some of their apparent wealth……
Well, going by Trump’s comments when he meet the Irish Prime Minister. Those days are over according to Trump.
Not really, his comments were actually milder than some of his administration, his main complaint seemed geared towards the failure of previous admins to have prevented the industrial growth, which fits with his views that nobody but America should be in position to trade.