U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed Friday to strengthen the military ties between their countries and step up efforts to prevent migrants from crossing the English Channel, at a summit that signaled a thaw in relations after years of Brexit-induced chill.
Sunak traveled to Paris as part of efforts to mend relations with France and other European Union members following the tensions created by the U.K.'s departure from the EU. At a cordial joint news conference, Sunak said his meeting with Macron, the first French-British summit since 2018, marked "a new beginning, an entente renewed."
The U.K. has struck a series of deals with France over the years to increase patrols of beaches and share intelligence in an attempt to disrupt smuggling gangs -- all of which have had only a limited impact. "There is no one solution to solving this very complicated problem, and nor will it be solved overnight," Sunak acknowledged.
Humanitarian groups criticized the U.K.-France agreement. Christina Marriott, spokesperson for the British Red Cross, said "the focus on more detention in today's agreement with France is disappointing." Sunak's visit also comes two weeks before King Charles III travels to France and then Germany for his first state visits since becoming monarch.
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