British prime minister Keir Starmer calls for European countries to spend more on defence

Mr Starmer told UK-Ireland summit in Cork countries needed to collaborate on defence and security, as updated memorandum of understanding between the two countries focused on subsea cables and maritime defence 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin greets British prime minister Keir Starmer at Fota House, Co Cork, on Friday, as the two leaders meet for the second UK-Ireland Summit. Picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

European countries including Ireland should be spending more on defence, the British prime minister has said.

Speaking at a UK-Ireland summit at Fota House in Cork, Keir Starmer said Europe needed to be more co-ordinated and increase defence budgets.