The United Kingdom (UK) Government is considering new agreements with other countries to address illegal migration.
According to The Telegraph, the British Government is in talks with Vietnam, Kurdistan, and Turkey.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer supports efforts to deter dangerous journeys to the UK by tackling the root causes of migration.
Italy’s recent success inspires this approach to reduce Mediterranean crossings through deals with North African nations.
Starmer’s remarks came during his visit to the G20 summit in Brazil, where migration was a key topic of discussion.
International cooperation to prevent illegal migration
UK’s Number 10 emphasized the importance of stopping illegal migration at its source.
Starmer says it is the “right thing” to discourage people from leaving their home countries.
This is a better alternative for the UK than allowing them to make the dangerous journey across the Channel in small boats.
“Anything else we can do to stop people leaving in the first place is the right thing, whatever point of impact,” he said.
The UK is in talks with Vietnam, Kurdistan, and Turkey to enhance border security and share intelligence to disrupt human trafficking networks.
Initial plans focus on training border staff and running information campaigns to warn against the risks of illegal migration.
A government source indicated that the funds could help border staff identify individuals traveling with gang assistance.
While the UK has not ruled out financial incentives, Home Office officials stress that improving cooperation and enforcement is the priority.
Financial aid could come later, depending on how agreements progress.
Lessons from Italy’s migration strategy
Italy’s approach to migration has influenced the UK’s discussions with other countries to deter illegal migration.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni struck cooperation deals with Tunisia and Libya.
The deal involves providing them with funding to strengthen border security and create economic opportunities.
Italy’s Interior Ministry reported a 62 percent drop in the number of arrivals over the first seven months of 2024
According to Frontex, the European Union’s (EU’s) border agency, these agreements led to a 64 percent reduction in arrivals from North Africa and Malta.
Last year, the EU allocated £88 million to Tunisia for training coastguards and improving border controls.
Italy also contributed £83 million to support small businesses and invest in education and renewable energy projects in Tunisia.
UK Prime Minister Starmer acknowledged the effectiveness of Italy’s measures.
“I don’t think this is an area where we should just do one thing. We have got to do everything that we can,” Starmer said.
However, UK officials clarified that their initial focus differs from Italy’s financial support model.
Boosting UK’s Border Security Command
Alongside international efforts, the UK is enhancing its own border security through the newly formed Border Security Command (BSC).
This agency coordinates work between immigration enforcement, MI5, Border Force, and the National Crime Agency (NCA)to dismantle people smuggling networks.
The government plans to double the BSC’s budget to £150 million over two years.
BSC will acquire state-of-the-art technology and hire more offices and specialists to improve intelligence sharing among enforcement agencies.
It has also increased the presence of the UK’s border officials at Interpol to coordinate with other countries in combating illegal migration.
Starmer emphasized treating smuggling gangs with the same seriousness as terrorist organizations.
“We need to stop people-smuggling gangs before they act too,” he said.
Migration challenges and ongoing work
Despite the ongoing and planned efforts, experts warn that completely stopping small-boat crossings is unlikely.
However, Rob Jones of the National Crime Agency (NCA) pointed out that the focus is on reducing the capacity of smuggling gangs rather than eliminating crossings entirely.
Early November 2024 data shows that 32,900 people had illegally crossed the Channel this year.
This number already surpassed the whole of 2023, when only 29,437 people arrived in the UK in small boats.
Some critics have also raised concerns about human rights protection and the overall effectiveness of international agreements.
For instance, the UK’s previous financial deals with France yielded limited results in curbing crossings.
The Times cited that Italy’s deal with Libya is said to push people back to detention camps where they face torture and other abuses.
Still, the Starmer administration is hopeful that a combination of international and domestic measures will lead to better outcomes.
The Prime Minister reiterated the importance of dismantling smuggling networks to discourage illegal crossings.
“Intercepting and taking those gangs down is hugely important, and it will be one of the biggest disincentives if we can break the gangs that are running these,” he said.
A comprehensive strategy against illegal migration
The UK Government is pursuing a multi-pronged approach to address illegal migration.
It has enhanced border security and international cooperation agreements targeted to incapacitate smuggling gangs.
While challenges remain, these measures reflect a commitment to tackling the issue at its roots.
It hopes that doing so will also reduce the dangers faced by migrants attempting dangerous journeys to the UK.