The British Broadcasting Corporation said that today the first summit meeting between the United Kingdom and France will be held since 2018, as French President Emmanuel Macron will receive British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today for talks in Paris.

The two leaders are expected to discuss a range of issues, foremost of which is the issue of illegal immigration and the arming of Ukraine, at the first summit in five years.

According to the report, Sunak is looking to strengthen the guarding of waterways and reach an agreement on the return of migrants arriving from France, although officials expect Macron to likely delay this for a broader EU-wide return deal.

Macron, in turn, wants the UK to agree to a multi-year financing settlement to help pay for police efforts in northern France to stop small boats crossing. The Times reports that the UK could offer up to £200m over three years to stop the crossings at source.

Small boats are a priority for Sunak, who has invested a great deal of political capital in a controversial new immigration bill that would criminalize anyone who arrives unofficially, with the threat of speedy deportation and a permanent ban from settling in the UK.

Broader bilateral issues such as defense and Ukraine are also on the agenda, with concrete announcements including an agreement to develop precision offensive weapons to combat Russia's war in Ukraine.

Soella Braverman, Secretary of the Interior, James Cleverly, Secretary of State, Ben Wallace, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of Energy Grant Shapps will also meet with their French counterparts.

There will also be a focus on rebuilding more cordial relations in the wake of tensions over Brexit and the more hawkish approach of Boris Johnson and Liz Terrace.
Source: The Seventh Day website