France blasts UK hard-right plan to use navy to stop Channel migrants

France has strongly criticized Reform UK's plan to utilize the Royal Navy to halt migrant crossings through the English Channel, should the party gain power in future elections. Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage unveiled the proposal at a press conference, asserting that it would be the largest military operation in the Channel since World War II to prevent small boats from carrying migrants to British shores.

However, the French interior ministry dismissed the plan, labeling it an affront to French sovereignty, maritime law, and international law. The proposal emerges amid a sharp increase in migrant arrivals, particularly after tens of thousands entered Spain's Ceuta from Morocco over the weekend, reigniting debates on irregular migration.

Reform UK's stance is further complicated by a series of financial scandals and investigations. Despite these challenges, Farage maintains the proposal would prevent the boats within two weeks, while a former Royal Navy commander argues that such an operation would be impractical and counterproductive. The Conservative government in 2020 had previously abandoned a similar policy, while the current Labour-led administration has vowed to curb migrant crossings through increased cooperation with France.