Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has urged France to accept the United Kingdom’s proposed plan to return small boat migrants crossing the English Channel on Royal Navy vessels, despite French objections. The proposal has been met with strong opposition from France, which has characterized the plan as an infringement on its sovereignty.

Farage acknowledged that the policy might initially face resistance from France but insisted that Paris would ultimately have to acquiesce. He highlighted that the UK is providing France with more than £1.1 billion in funding between 2023 and 2029 to assist in securing its borders. Despite this, Farage criticized the actions of the French navy, asserting that French vessels escort migrants from just off the coast to the UK’s territorial waters, effectively handing the issue over to British authorities.

“Their navy still escorts boats from 200 yards off the shore, all the way to our 12-mile line and says, ‘there you go lads’. That is not acceptable at any level,” Farage stated.

He also emphasized the humanitarian and social challenges faced by communities in northern France, where thousands of migrants have established camps along the coastline. Farage argued that curbing the flow of migrant boats would improve conditions both for local residents and the migrants themselves. He contended that the proposed approach, dubbed Operation Fortress, would save lives by preventing dangerous Channel crossings and would reduce crime and disorder in French coastal areas.

Operation Fortress, announced by Reform UK last week, envisions a military-led response to stop illegal crossings. Under the plan, the British armed forces would intercept unauthorized vessels, transfer migrants onto Royal Navy ships where they would receive medical attention if needed, and escort them back to France or Belgium.

More than 14,500 migrants have been detected attempting to cross the Channel in small boats so far this year, underscoring the ongoing challenge for British and French authorities alike.

While French officials have condemned the plan, emphasizing that such actions would violate French sovereignty, the UK government has yet to formally adopt the scheme proposed by Reform UK. Debate continues over the appropriate method of managing migration flows across the Channel, with both countries seeking to balance border security, humanitarian considerations, and diplomatic relations.