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Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
UK, France unveil migrants deal as Macron ends visit
NORTHWOOD, United Kingdom: London and Paris unveiled a 'pilot' program on Thursday to return to France some of the migrants arriving in the UK on small boats across the Channel, as President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up his state visit. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the deal, hammered out during the French leader's three-day visit, 'groundbreaking' and capable of stemming the record numbers of people who have embarked on the perilous journey so far this year. 'This is groundbreaking, because this is a scheme intended to break the model, and to make it clear that if you cross in a small boat, then you'll end up where you started,' he said in a joint press conference with Macron. 'In exchange for every return, a different individual will be allowed to come here' in a safe manner, Starmer said, adding that the scheme would start within 'the coming weeks'. Although Starmer did not say how many people might be returned to France, media reports suggest it could initially total around 50 people a week. In comments likely to infuriate pro-Brexit groups, Macron said Britain's 2020 departure from the EU had worsened the situation in the Channel, cutting off legal migration routes and access to the bloc's own returns agreements. 'So for people wanting to cross, there is no legal way, nor a way of sending people back after a crossing,' Macron said. 'This is a pull factor to attempt the crossing — exactly the inverse effect of what Brexit promised.' Meanwhile, Macron urged joint UK-France recognition of a Palestinian state, calling such moves 'the only hope for peace' in the conflict-ridden region. Alongside migration, the two leaders used the visit to work on a raft of initiatives and shared concerns over defense, trade and culture. They included addressing the volatile situation in the Middle East, continued support for Ukraine and a 'reboot' of defense ties, including joint missile development and nuclear cooperation. Among the announcements was a commitment to increase from 10,000 to 50,000 troops a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) established more than a decade ago. The cross-Channel allies also said they would order more Storm Shadow cruise missiles — long-range, air-launched weapons jointly developed by the allies — while stepping up work on a replacement system. The missiles have been shipped to Ukraine in significant numbers to help Kyiv in its war with Russia following Moscow's full-scale 2022 invasion. Starmer and Macron dialed into a meeting Thursday of the so-called 'coalition of the willing' on Ukraine, announcing that new headquarters for the European-led, 30-nation grouping had opened in Paris. Britain and France are spearheading talks among the coalition on how to support a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, including potentially deploying peacekeeping forces. The visit also saw the typical British pomp and pageantry of such occasions, with King Charles III and Queen Camilla welcoming Macron and his wife Brigitte to Windsor Castle on Tuesday. The entourage enjoyed a horse-drawn carriage procession, a 41-gun salute and a banquet at Windsor Castle, west of London, where the Francophile king and French leader toasted a new 'entente amicale'. However, much of the attention over the three-day visit focused on the vexing issue of cross-Channel migration. It has become a major headache for Starmer's year-old Labour government, as support for the upstart anti-immigrant Reform UK party soars. More than 21,000 migrants have made the Channel crossing in rudimentary vessels this year alone. As the leaders met Thursday, the UK Coastguard said a number of the small boats headed to southeast England had been sighted in the Channel. Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage reacted to the returns deal, branding it 'a humiliation for Brexit Britain'. 'We have acted today as an EU member and bowed down to an arrogant French President,' Farage said on X. The main opposition Conservative Party also criticized the plan, accusing Starmer of 'weak and ineffective gimmicks'. The mooted migrant-exchange scheme has also sparked 'serious concerns' among some other European nations. – AFP
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
UK, France unveil migrants deal as Macron wraps up state visit
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox NORTHWOOD, United Kingdom - London and Paris unveiled a 'pilot' programme on July 10 to return to France some of the migrants arriving in the UK on small boats across the Channel, as President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up his state visit. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the deal, hammered out during the French leader's three-day visit, 'groundbreaking' and capable of stemming the record numbers of people who have embarked on the perilous journey so far this year. 'This is groundbreaking, because this is a scheme intended to break the model, and to make it clear that if you cross in a small boat, then you'll end up where you started,' he said, in a joint press conference with Mr Macron. 'In exchange for every return, a different individual will be allowed to come here' in a safe manner, Mr Starmer said, adding that the scheme would start within 'the coming weeks'. Although Mr Starmer did not say how many people might be returned to France, media reports suggest it could initially total around 50 people a week. In comments likely to infuriate pro-Brexit groups, Mr Macron said Britain's 2020 departure from the EU had worsened the situation in the Channel, cutting off legal migration routes and access to the bloc's own return agreements. 'So for people wanting to cross, there is no legal way, nor a way of sending people back after a crossing,' Mr Macron said. 'This is a pull factor to attempt the crossing – exactly the inverse effect of what Brexit promised.' Wide-ranging focus Alongside migration, the two leaders used the visit to work on a raft of initiatives and shared concerns over defence, trade and culture. They included addressing the volatile situation in the Middle East, continued support for Ukraine and a 'reboot' of defence ties, including joint missile development and nuclear cooperation. Among the announcements was a commitment to increase from 10,000 to 50,000 troops a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) established more than a decade ago. The cross-Channel allies also said they would order more Storm Shadow cruise missiles – long-range, air-launched weapons jointly developed by the allies – while stepping up work on a replacement system. The missiles have been shipped to Ukraine in significant numbers to help Kyiv in its war with Russia following Moscow's full-scale 2022 invasion. Mr Starmer and Mr Macron dialled into a meeting on July 10 of the so-called 'coalition of the willing' on Ukraine, announcing that new headquarters for the European-led, 30-nation grouping had opened in Paris. Britain and France are spearheading talks among the coalition on how to support a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, including potentially deploying peacekeeping forces. Meanwhile, Mr Macron urged joint UK-France recognition of a Palestinian state, calling such moves 'the only hope for peace' in the conflict-ridden region. Time for pomp The visit also saw the typical British pomp and pageantry of such occasions, with King Charles III and Queen Camilla welcoming Mr Macron and his wife Brigitte to Windsor Castle on July 8. The entourage enjoyed a horse-drawn carriage procession, a 41-gun salute and a banquet at Windsor Castle, west of London, where the Francophile king and French leader toasted a new 'entente amicale'. However, much of the attention over the three-day visit focused on the vexing issue of cross-Channel migration. It has become a major headache for Mr Starmer's year-old Labour government, as support for the upstart anti-immigrant Reform UK party soars. More than 21,000 migrants have made the Channel crossing in rudimentary vessels this year alone. As the leaders met on July 10, the UK Coastguard said a number of the small boats headed to south-east England had been sighted in the Channel. Meanwhile Reform UK leader Nigel Farage reacted to the returns deal, branding it 'a humiliation for Brexit Britain'. 'We have acted today as an EU member and bowed down to an arrogant French President,' Mr Farage said on X. The main opposition Conservative Party also criticised the plan, accusing Mr Starmer of 'weak and ineffective gimmicks' The mooted migrant-exchange scheme has also sparked 'serious concerns' among some other European nations. AFP
BBC News
06-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Joint UK and French military exercise on D-Day training beach
An amphibious warfare exercise involving UK and French troops is taking place on a Devon beach that was used to train soldiers for D-Day. Exercise Catamaran is a two-week training operation spilt between North Devon and the Bay of Biscay, involving 11 warships, aircraft and about 3,000 from the two nations are being launched ashore on Devon's Braunton Burrows beach, which was used to train soldiers for the D-Day landings on 6 June Royal Navy's Maj Gen Rich Cantrill said the "highly complex" amphibious operations require regular practice and the joint exercise is "echoing our history" from World War Two. The Royal Navy and Marine Nationale task group is operating under the control of the joint French and British Combined Joint Expeditionary Force, along with Spanish troops. Seaborne and helicopter commando raids are taking place on the beaches in North Devon before moving to the Bay of Biscay on Saturday. The Royal Navy said the purpose of the exercise was to test the ability of allied nations to operate effectively together in a wartime Gen Cantrill said the Royal Navy was delighted to participate in the French-led exercise and host its initial phase off the Devon coast."Amphibious operations are highly complex and so require regular practice," he said."We must stand united as allies, echoing our history from WWII and maintaining our ability to project power from sea to added: "As warfare evolves, as we've seen with Ukraine, we have to adapt, and the Royal Navy is significantly transforming its Commando Force and the way it delivers operations in the littoral." The D-Day landings involved the simultaneous landing of tens of thousands of troops on five separate beaches in Royal Navy said the exercises taking place on the anniversary of D-Day reflected the "continued relevance" of these operations 81 years since the largest amphibious landing in history. French commander of naval operations, Vice Adm Emmanuel Slaars, said the amphibious operations were "demanding". "You have to deal with the sea state and the weather, he said. "We know when we look back to history that is was an essential parameter of the decision to launch D-Day."The second phase of the exercise from Saturday until 15 June will will see training carried out in the Bay of Biscay. Royal Marines will operate from French Navy ships and air assaults will be launched from Royal Navy Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset onto the French coastline.
