For now, at least the two countries are behaving like good neighbours. The principal reason for this is not simply Starmer’s obvious affection for this country, but his determination to act on it. At one level, the annual summits are designed to compensate for the fact that since Brexit, Irish and British political leaders and their top officials no longer meet regularly at EU events. A related issue was the commitment to closer defence co-operation to deter threats in the Irish Sea and the North Atlantic. But for now, at least the two countries are behaving like good neighbours.

Source: The Irish Times March 20, 2026 09:54 UTC