Britain and France have signed a three-year agreement to combat illegal immigration in the English Channel

The United Kingdom and France have signed a new three-year agreement aimed at stopping crossings of the English Channel by small boats. Under the agreement, the French side has committed to increasing the number of law enforcement officers on the coast to 1,400 by 2029. 

AFP reports that London will provide up to €766 million in funding to strengthen intelligence and surveillance.

The UK will pay about a quarter of that amount only if France’s measures to deter migrants prove effective. The agreement also provides for the use of drones, helicopters, and digital resources to prevent boats from setting out. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that this historic agreement will allow for stronger border protection during the peak summer period. According to the British leader, previous stages of cooperation have already helped stop tens of thousands of illegal crossing attempts.

It should be noted that asylum seekers whom the UK forcibly deported to France under a bilateral agreement are re-entering British territory via trucks.

Iranian citizens fleeing the regime due to U.S. strikes have arrived at the Calais Jungle camp in France with the intention of crossing the English Channel and remaining in the UK. They warn that many more people are preparing to flee due to the escalation of the conflict.