France Rejects Reform UK Proposal to Use Royal Navy for Migrant Returns

The French government has firmly rejected a proposal from Reform UK to utilise the Royal Navy for the direct return of Channel migrants to France. Hervé Berville, France's Secretary of State for Marine Affairs, stated that international maritime law prohibits a country from unilaterally disembarking individuals in another sovereign nation against its will.

Reform UK leader Richard Tice outlined the party's policy, which includes deploying the Royal Navy to intercept migrant vessels in the English Channel and returning them to French ports, even in defiance of French objections. Mr Tice claimed that existing agreements with France, notably the Le Touquet treaty, have been ineffective in curbing illegal crossings.

Mr Berville emphasised the necessity of co-operation with the UK to tackle illegal migration, highlighting the collaborative efforts already underway to prevent crossings. However, he maintained that France would not permit direct returns by the UK Navy without mutual agreement, citing adherence to international legal frameworks.

The current UK government's approach involves intercepting migrant boats and transferring individuals to processing centres, with deportation to Rwanda as a central, contentious policy. Reform UK's alternative suggests a more confrontational stance with France, seeking to bypass established diplomatic protocols and international legal norms.