France and the UK agreed on a “one in, one out” returns scheme, to address migrant crossings over the English Channel. UK PM Keir Starmer had been under pressure to address a high influx of migration into Britain.

France and the United Kingdom on Thursday reached several deals on migration, nuclear cooperation and support for Ukraine, after a visit from French President Emmanuel Macron to London.

The three-day visit was hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and included a carriage procession to Windsor Castle with King Charles and a state banquet.

Starmer and Macron held a press conference on Thursday where they announced the deals, highlighting tougher migration controls.

What is the new migration scheme?

The two countries agreed on a “one in, one out” returns scheme, where the UK would be deporting undocumented people arriving in small boats to France, in return for accepting an equal number of legitimate asylum seekers with British family connections.

“I’m pleased to announce our agreement today on a groundbreaking returns pilot. For the very first time, migrants arriving in small boats will be detained and returned to France in short order,” Starmer said.

“This will show others trying to make the same journey that it will be in vain,” he added.

The agreement would need “prior legal scrutiny in full transparency and understanding with the Commission and EU member states,” which may delay its implementation.

Starmer had been under pressure to address high levels of immigration in the UK, including asylum seekers arriving by small boats across the Channel from France, as his popularity has sunk and the populist Reform UK party, led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, has grown in prominence.

At the three-day summit, France’s Macron said Brexit was a ‘mistake’ Image: Yui Mok/REUTERS

More long-range missiles for Ukraine

Aside from migration, the two leaders also addressed the key issue of support for Ukraine.

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 bloc had opened in Paris.

The two leaders also pledged to order more Storm Shadow cruise missiles, while stepping up work on a replacement system.

The long-range, air-launched missiles have been shipped to Ukraine in significant numbers to help Kyiv in its war with Russia.

Macron calls for recognition of Palestinian state

During the visit, the two leaders also touched on Israel’s war in Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron urged joint UK-France recognition of a Palestinian state.

Macros said it represented “the only hope for peace” in the region.

The French president said he wanted to “initiate this political dynamic” of recognizing Palestinian statehood.

Macron said in London that a ceasefire was a matter of “absolute urgency.”

“We are aware that a political way out is crucial, and I believe in the future of the two-state solution as a basis for regional security architecture which will enable Israel to live in peace and security alongside its neighbors,” he added.

Edited by: Wesley Rahn

There is scepticism as to whether such a small-scale returns scheme will put migrants off, or whether it will break the business model of the criminal networks.

The UK and France have agreed to a ‘one in, one out’ migrant deal that will see failed asylum seekers returned to France for the first time since Brexit.

As part of what Prime Minister Keir Starmer called a “groundbreaking” agreement, a number of migrants already in the UK will be sent back to France. In exchange, the UK will accept an equal number of migrants from France.

The prime minister said the UK will only receive “genuine asylum seekers” from the French and the scheme will only be open to migrants who have not previously tried to cross illegally on a small boat.

Pilot scheme

But the scheme, which is being pitched as a “pilot”, will reportedly be limited to 50 migrants per week. No quota at all is specified in the text of the joint agreement.

The number of people trying to cross the English Channel was close to 20,000 in the first six months of this year.

Over the course of just one day last week, 517 migrants successfully made it across in small boats, according to Home Office figures.

But Keir Starmer hopes that the new scheme will act as a signal to those desperately trying to get to the UK on overcrowded and often unsafe dinghies that their efforts are in vain.

Crisis

The prime minister said that the UK and France are fighting what he called a “crisis of law, security, humanity and fairness”.

And they are up against a “multi-billion-pound enterprise run by criminal gangs”.

But there is scepticism as to whether such a small-scale returns scheme will put migrants off, or whether it will break the business model of the criminal networks.

“The numbers, if successful, will ramp up,” Starmer promised.

The deal was reached as the culmination of a three-day visit to the UK by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Verification

Despite Starmer’s promise that the scheme will be up and running “within weeks”, Macron said that the agreement was subject to a “legal verification” by the European Union.

A European Commission spokesperson said they were “working with France and the UK, as well as other EU member states, to support solutions that are compatible with the spirit and the letter of EU law”.

Five EU member states, including Italy, Greece and Spain, have expressed concerns that migrants returned to France might subsequently end up on their doorsteps.

“Such an initiative raises serious concerns for us, both procedurally and in terms of potential implications for other member states, particularly those of first entry,” they complained in a letter to the European Commission last week.

Under current EU rules, migrants should be sent back to the country where they entered the European Union, meaning Mediterranean countries could end up bearing the brunt.

According to the French government, one third of all the migrants illegally entering the European Union are destined for northern France and ultimately the UK.

France agreed to the exchange scheme because it wants the UK to address the “pull factors” that seem to make Britain a magnet for migrants.

For its part, Britain wants France to do much more to stop the migrants from getting on boats in the first place.

Gendarmes

France already has more than 1,200 gendarmes permanently stationed along the coast to try and prevent the crossings.

Keir Starmer said that France has now agreed to instruct its police officers to enter shallow waters to pursue migrant smugglers.

That’s something French police have so far mainly resisted.

“If we go in the water, there’s a risk of making people fall off the boats. Police might fall in with all their kit on. They’re not trained lifeguards,” Marc Allegre, from the police union, Unite SGP, told Channel 4 News.

France and the UK have been trying to get a grip on the migrant problem for years. Previous attempts have failed because the smugglers have simply exploited a new weakness.

They hope that this latest deal will tighten the noose.

Both sides know that so long as migrants keep coming, the smugglers will find a way.

Watch more here:

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Crackdown on small boat arrivals is similar to EU-Turkiye deal and comes as Starmer is under increasing pressure from the hard right.

UK and France agree on need for new migration boat crossing ‘deterrent’

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have reached an agreement on a pilot programme to return migrants and refugees arriving in small boats, in a scheme to curb crossings over the English Channel.

In a joint press conference on Thursday, Starmer said people arriving in the United Kingdom on small boats will “be detained and returned to France in short order”.

The British leader added that for every migrant returned, a different individual would be allowed “to come here via a safe route: controlled and legal, subject to strict security checks and only open to those who have not tried to enter the UK illegally”.

Moreover, Macron, referencing Britain’s exit from the European Union in 2020, said the decision had led to the country having less control over its border, a contrary reality to what defenders of the decision said would happen.

The announcement caps Macron’s three-day state visit to the UK, with Starmer intent on the need for a “new deterrent” to crack down on undocumented migration as support for the far-right anti-immigrant Reform UK party soars.

The policy, which is similar to a scheme used by the European Union and Turkiye, carries risks for Macron since his right-wing political critics may question why he has agreed to take back refugees and migrants wanting to live in Britain.

Sitting next to Macron at his Downing Street office ahead of Thursday’s meeting, Starmer said the situation “cannot go on as it is”.

“We’re bringing new tactics into play and a new level of intent to tackle illegal migration and break the business model of a criminal gang,” he said.

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Macron said the two countries “shared the same resolve to fight against illegal criminal gangs, with strong coordination with other EU states”.

The scheme, which has led to “serious concerns” among some other European nations, could initially involve about 50 people a week, French daily Le Monde reported. That number tallies with UK media reports of 2,600 a year.

It would be scaled up later if a pilot scheme demonstrated “proof of concept”, according to The Times, quoting a UK government source.

More than 21,000 people have arrived on small boats this year – a record number. On Wednesday, Starmer’s office said he had told Macron that undocumented workers were increasingly being arrested to deter them from coming to Britain for jobs.

Ukraine and Palestine

Macron’s visit, which has been big on ceremony, including a carriage procession to Windsor Castle with King Charles and a lavish state banquet, saw the French leader discuss other thorny issues with his UK counterpart, including Gaza and Ukraine.

The leaders pledged to order more Storm Shadow cruise missiles, now used in Ukraine, and signed an agreement to deepen their nuclear cooperation, which will say for the first time that the respective deterrents of both countries can be coordinated.

Starmer and Macron will also on Thursday dial into a meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing” on Ukraine, a group of countries that could potentially deploy peacekeeping forces to the country.

Co-chairing the meeting, Starmer said a new “coordination hub” to act as headquarters for the group had been opened in Kyiv.

Starmer added that they were “finalising command and control structures” for the 30-nation grouping.

Moreover, during the press conference, Macron called for a joint UK-France recognition of a Palestinian state, adding that it was the “only hope for peace” in the region, as Israel’s war on Gaza, which has so far killed at least 57,762 people since October 2023, continues.

But Macron said he wanted to “initiate this political dynamic” of recognising Palestinian statehood.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer (left) and France’s President Emmanuel Macron address a joint press conference following a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing at a military base at Northwood Headquarters in north-west London, on July 10, 2025. (PHOTO / AFP)

LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday that Britain and France have signed a new deal to allow the two countries to coordinate their nuclear deterrents for the first time.

During a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at a military base in Northwood, near London, Starmer said the two countries had signed the Northwood Declaration, a deal designed to show adversaries that any attack on either nation would result in a response from both nations.

For his part, Macron, who will conclude a three-day state visit to Britain later Thursday, highlighted the importance of defense and security cooperation between the two countries, noting that times have changed in Europe and the Britain-France partnership “must change accordingly.”

Referring to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Macron said Europe must be able to rely on the strategic collaboration between Britain and France, Europe’s only two nuclear powers.

A statement by Downing Street underscored the “extreme threat to Europe” that would prompt a joint nuclear response. “Any adversary threatening the vital interests of Britain or France could be confronted by the strength of the nuclear forces of both nations,” it said.

Meanwhile, Britain and France plan to order additional highly lethal Storm Shadow cruise missiles and step up replenishment of arms depots as part of a renewed defense agreement, according to the statement.

Following a Britain-France Summit at Downing Street and a “coalition of the willing” virtual meeting, which included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Starmer announced that a new coalition headquarters supporting Ukraine will be established in Paris.

On the issue of migration, the two leaders unveiled a new “one in, one out” scheme to reduce English Channel crossings.

ALSO READ: UK’s Starmer, France’s Macron to announce migration deal at summit

Under the scheme, migrants arriving in Britain via small boats will be “detained and returned to France in short order”, Starmer said. In parallel, individuals who have not previously attempted to cross the Channel illegally will be allowed to enter Britain through a newly created route.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron (center right) and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer (center left) arrive at the United Kingdom Strategic Command Headquarters at Northwood Headquarters in north-west London, on July 10, 2025. (PHOTO / AFP)

The route will be subject to strict security checks and limited to those meeting the eligibility criteria. Starmer described the plan as “groundbreaking” but didn’t specify how many migrants would be returned.

Macron said he’s “totally committed” to the pilot scheme, which will come into effect within weeks.

However, it remains unclear whether the scheme will serve as an effective deterrent. Despite joint funding and efforts, more than 20,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year, marking a 50 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Both Macron and Starmer face rising pressure at home from far-right and anti-immigration sentiment. Addressing the British parliament on Tuesday, Macron described the migration challenge as “a burden” shared by both countries.

Starmer also said the two countries “have gone further” to improve trade and investment, adding that both sides will strengthen collaboration on supercomputers, satellite connectivity, and artificial intelligence.

Macron hailed the development as a “reset” in bilateral ties, noting that trade volumes have topped pre-Brexit levels and the two countries are strengthening their partnerships in civilian nuclear power and cooperating in space exploration.

During his visit, Macron reiterated support for the two-state solution to solving the conflicts in Gaza, and called recognition of the State of Palestine the “only path to peace”.

The visit marks the first state trip to Britain by a French president since 2008, and Macron is the first European Union head of state to visit since Brexit.

Observers said trust between the two sides still needs to be rebuilt after years of tension, particularly during the Brexit negotiations. Macron previously described Brexit as a product of “lies and false promises”. Dialogue between the two nations had diminished following disputes on fishing rights and the Britain-Australia submarine deals.

READ MORE: Britain agrees trade and defense reset with EU

Sebastien Maillard, an expert at London-based think tank Chatham House, said that “the memory of these difficult times has not vanished” on either side. “Trust needs time to build,” he added.

Britain and France agreed overnight to a pilot plan that will send some migrants who cross the English Channel on small boats back to France as the UK government struggles to tamp down criticism that it has lost control of the country’s borders.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced the deal Thursday (local time) in London. While the initial program a limited number of people, UK officials suggest it is a major breakthrough because it sets a precedent that migrants who reach Britain illegally can be returned to France.

“There is no silver bullet here, but with a united effort, new tactics and a new level of intent, we can finally turn the tables,” Starmer told reporters at a news conference. “For the very first time, migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron at a joint military visit to the MARCOM centre, maritime command centre in Northwood, London. (Source: Associated Press)

Under the agreement, Britain will send some of those who cross the Channel in small boats back to France while accepting an equal number migrants who are judged to have legitimate claims to asylum in the UK.

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Starmer had pushed for the arrangement, known as the “one in, one out” deal, in hopes of discouraging people from making the dangerous crossing. It is set to begin in weeks.

Small boat crossings have become a potent political issue in Britain, fueled by pictures of smugglers piling migrants into overcrowded, leaky inflatable boats on the French coast. So far this year, more than 21,000 people have arrived in the UK in small boats, up 56% from the same period last year.

The crossing is dangerous and many have died.

“I’m totally committed to make it work, because this is clearly our willingness and our common interest,” Macron said. He added that the point of the pilot was a “deterrence” effect.

The measure announced is part of broader efforts to build closer cooperation with France, as well as countries further up the migrants; routes from Africa and the Middle East.

British officials have been pushing for French police to intervene more forcefully to stop boats once they have left the shore, and welcomed the sight of officers slashing rubber dinghies with knives in recent days.

Macron said earlier this week that he and Starmer would aim for “tangible results” on an issue that’s “a burden for our two countries.”

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron at a joint military visit to the MARCOM centre, maritime command centre in Northwood, London. (Source: Associated Press)

An issue that has dogged relations between France and that UK

As far back as 2001, the two countries were discussing ways to stop the flow of migrants, though at that time they were focused on people stowing away on trains and trucks entering Britain through the tunnel under the channel.

Over the following years, French authorities cleared out camps near Calais where thousands of migrants gathered before trying to reach Britain. Beefed up security sharply reduced the number of vehicle stowaways, but from about 2018 people-smugglers began offering migrants a new route by sea.

“You see that pattern again and again, where smuggling gangs and migrants try to find new ways to cross from France to the UK,” said Mihnea Cuibus, a researcher at the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory. “The authorities crack down on that, and then gradually you see migrants and gangs try to adapt to that. And it becomes a bit of a game of cat and mouse.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron at a joint military visit to the MARCOM centre, maritime command centre in Northwood, London. (Source: Associated Press)

Cooperation on stopping the boats stalled after Britain’s acrimonious split from the European Union in 2020, but in the past few years the countries have struck several agreements that saw the UK pay France to increase police and drone patrols of the coast.

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Britain’s previous Conservative government came up with a contentious plan in 2022 to deport asylum-seekers arriving by boat to Rwanda. Critics called it unworkable and unethical, and it was scrapped by Starmer soon after he took office in July 2024.

Cuibus said irregular cross-channel migration would likely always be a challenge, but that the measures being discussed by Britain and France could make an impact, “if they’re implemented in the right way.

“But that’s a big if,” he said.

Summit yields deals on defence cooperation plans

The UK-France summit came after a three-day state visit that stressed the longstanding ties between the two countries despite the rupture caused by Britain’s departure from the European Union. Punctuated by carriage rides, banquets and champagne toasts, the two leaders hugged and offered a picture of unity — a step forward to greater cooperation in the future.

The bonhomie was followed by concrete actions. The two leaders sealed deals on defence cooperation, including a pledge to coordinate their nuclear deterrents for the first time.

“Now as Europe’s only nuclear powers and as leaders in NATO, we play a vital role in preserving the peace and security on this continent,” Starmer said.

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron at a joint military visit to the MARCOM centre, maritime command centre in Northwood, London. (Source: Associated Press)

“From today, our adversaries will know that any extreme threat to this continent would prompt a response from our two nations,” Starmer added.

Progress made on assisting Ukraine

Also Friday, Macron and Starmer visited a military base and dialled in to a planning meeting of the “coalition of the willing,” a UK- and France-initiated plan for an international force to guarantee a future ceasefire in Ukraine.

Americans attended the meeting for the first time, including retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who have co-sponsored a new sanctions bill against Russia, were also at the table.

The group agreed to set up its headquarters in Paris to facilitate a rapid deployment after the war ends.