UK-France Dispute Nears Over Channel Small Boats Migrant Deal

President Emmanuel Macron has blamed Brexit for exacerbating the small boat migrant crisis in the English Channel, arguing that the UK's split from the EU removed migratory agreements and inadvertently encouraged crossings. In response, UK politicians like Nigel Farage and Jacob Rees-Mogg dismissed Macron's claims as arrogant and inaccurate, defending the UK's stance. Meanwhile, King Charles described the small boats crisis as a profound challenge, emphasizing the need for enhanced security cooperation between the UK and France. Negotiations between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Macron are ongoing, focusing on a "one in, one out" deal where small boat migrants are returned to France in exchange for managed asylum seeker transfers to the UK, though the agreement faces hurdles over migrant benefits and family reunification policies. Despite significant UK funding to support French border control efforts, criticism remains over the effectiveness of these measures, and the EU has expressed concerns about the potential impact of any deal on other member states. Both leaders stress a shared responsibility to address irregular migration humanely and firmly, with upcoming talks aiming to produce tangible results in reducing dangerous Channel crossings.