By Euronews with AP
Published on
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in London on Tuesday for a state visit mixing royal pageantry with thorny political talks on immigration along the English Channel.
Macron, and his British counterpart, Keir Starmer, are also set to advance plans for a post-ceasefire security force in Ukraine — an idea previously floated by the French leader that was snubbed by the US.
Macron’s three-day visit — which comes at the invitation of King Charles III — is the first state visit to the UK by a European Union head of state since Brexit and regarded as indicative of Starmer’s government’s desire to reset relations with the bloc.
The visit, featuring a military honour guard and a state banquet hosted by the King and Queen Camilla, will centre on discussions about migration, defence, and investment.
On Thursday, senior officials are set to discuss small-boat crossing, a thorny issue for governments on both sides of the channel.
Each year, thousands of migrants attempt to reach the UK from northern France, often by hiding in trucks or crossing the Channel in small boats.
In response, Britain has signed multiple agreements with France to boost beach patrols and share intelligence aimed at disrupting smuggling networks.
The agreements, however, have had limited impact. In 2024, approximately 37,000 people were detected crossing the English Channel in small boats — the second-highest annual figure after 46,000 in 2022.
The numbers have increased in the first half of this year: more than 20,000 people made the crossing in the first six months of 2025, up by about 50% from the same period last year.
Starmer, whose centre-left government was elected a year ago, has pledged to “smash the gangs” behind organised people-smuggling.
Part of this plan rests on closer cooperation with France and with countries further up the migrants’ route from Africa and the Middle East. The UK also aims to strike deals with individual nations to take back failed asylum seekers.
The UK has been pressing France to alter how it polices small boat crossings, and allow its officers to intervene against boats in deeper waters.
The French government is considering making the changes to its laws to allow police to intervene further offshore. Currently, their authority is largely restricted to the shoreline unless they are required to rescue boats in trouble.
Starmer spokesperson Tom Wells said some of the tactics being discussed are “operationally and legally complex, but we’re working closely with the French.”
The two leaders have also worked closely together to rally support for Ukraine, though they have taken contrasting approaches to US President Donald Trump, with Macron more willing to challenge the American president than the more emollient Starmer.
Both countries have led efforts to form an international peacekeeping force made up of European troops and US security guarantees for war-torn Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
Trump has shown little enthusiasm for the idea and a ceasefire remains elusive as Russia refuses to halt the onslaught of its neighbour.
British officials say the “coalition of the willing” idea is alive and well, with Macron and Starmer due to join an international videoconference on Thursday to discuss planning for the force.
Starmer spoke with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday about the “significant progress being made by military planners,” the British leader’s office said.
