What will the British Home Secretary and French counterpart discuss?

Europe UK (Commonwealth Union) – The French-UK boat crisis is an ongoing issue in which migrants attempt to cross the English Channel from France to the UK in small boats. The number of crossings has increased significantly in recent years, with large numbers making the journey in 2022 alone. This recently put a test on relations between the two countries, with both sides accusing the other of not doing enough to stop the crossings until a deal was reached in March this year.

Home Secretary of the UK Suella Braverman and her French counterpart Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin held talks on state security, counter-terrorism as well as illegal migration.

Illegal migration has been taking center stage in domestic UK politics as the UK and France came to an agreement back in March with France agreeing to help in illegal crossings across the English Channel which is estimated to cost the UK over four hundred million pounds and has caused much skepticism among the British public in regards to the high costs paid.

Braverman met Gérald Darmanin on the 15^th of June at the National Crime Agency. This was a part of Darmanin’s 1st official visit to London.

The ministers had gone over the significance of security in the face of terrorism and state threats and agreed on moving forward with their working together to keep joint security.

The meeting was followed by a statement from the UK, Home Secretary Suella Braverman says “The United Kingdom and France are the firmest of friends, and I am delighted to welcome Minister Darmanin to the UK.”

“Our cooperation goes from strength to strength, and we are firmly committed to working together in lockstep on our shared global challenges, including stopping the boats.”

The general public within the UK was found to largely hold a positive view on migration from overseas, however, the illegal boat crossings with suspected links to illegal gangs became a heated issue in domestic politics with calls for the UK to leave the European Court of Human Rights which was seen as an obstacle to measures taken to tackle illegal boat crossings.