Absorb Dogansoy
June 3, 2026•Mise à jour: June 3, 2026
AA / Istanbul / Absorb Dogansoy
France and Ireland wish to deepen their cooperation in defense matters, particularly in the areas of armaments, maritime security and military capabilities, according to a press release published this Wednesday by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces following a meeting between Catherine Vautrin and her counterpart Irish Helen McEntee in Paris.
Meeting at the Hôtel de Brienne, the two ministers welcomed the deepening of defense relations between the two countries, particularly in the field of armaments, according to a press release from the French Ministry of the Armed Forces.
They emphasized that this dynamic was reflected in particular by Ireland’s choice to use several French solutions as part of its military acquisition programs, in particular for radar systems, air defense and armored vehicles from the SCORPION range.
The two officials also called for strengthening cooperation in maritime security, the protection of critical infrastructure, particularly submarine cables, as well as in the areas of joint acquisitions and the development of the European defense industrial and technological base.
Catherine Vautrin and Helen McEntee also discussed the strengthening of interoperability between the armed forces of the two countries through joint training activities and naval port calls.
The Irish minister also presented the priorities of the Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will begin on July 1.
The two ministers finally discussed the main European and international issues, reaffirming their support for a stronger and more autonomous European defense as well as the security of the continent.
They notably addressed the situation in the Middle East and Lebanon, where France and Ireland have long participated in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
This meeting comes a few months after the signing, on January 28, of a joint strategic framework between Paris and Dublin covering the period 2026-2030, intended to deepen cooperation between the two countries in several areas, including security and defense.​​​​​​​
