British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to visit Dublin, marking the first trip by a British leader to the Republic of Ireland in five years. This visit comes as Starmer’s government aims to enhance diplomatic and trading relations with Ireland and the European Union following his Labour Party’s victory in the July elections.

Starmer, who has expressed a desire for improved cooperation with EU nations without reexamining the terms of Brexit, seeks to reset Anglo-Irish relations that have been strained since the 2016 referendum, on Saturday.

His government aims to address issues stemming from trading rules related to Northern Ireland, which shares a border with the Republic of Ireland.

During his visit, Starmer will meet with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris and engage with local businesses before attending a football match between England and Ireland.

Starmer previously hosted Harris in July, viewing the recent election as an opportunity to rejuvenate bilateral ties.

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Looking ahead, Starmer plans to travel to Washington next week for discussions with President Joe Biden, where topics such as the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza are expected to be on the agenda.

This will be Starmer’s second visit to the White House since his election, as both leaders seek to reinforce Western support in these ongoing international crises.