During the European Political Community (EPC) meeting, the prime minister is advocating for tighter security cooperation and coordinated efforts to address small boat crossings.
Inaugurating the function at Oxfordshire’s Blenheim Palace, Sir Keir declared that “challenge is the wrong word” to characterize the “vile trade of people smuggling”.
“I believe there is a crisis right now,” he said to his foreign counterparts.
“A criminal organization is operating in every nation represented here today as we speak, preying on human suffering and despair and ready to send infants, babies, expectant moms, and innocent people into it.
“Last week, four more souls and, actually, last night, another one were lost in the waters of the English Channel, a chilling reminder of the human cost of this vile trade,” Sir Keir continued, referencing previous incidents involving small boats.
Having promised in his campaign to establish a new Border Force Command to combat people smuggling using funds diverted from the now-cancelled Rwanda program, Sir Keir is under pressure to seize control of Channel ports.
