LONDON

British Premier Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled on Thursday a “ground-breaking” new migration deal aimed at curbing the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats, with a pilot scheme set to launch within weeks.

Starmer announced the “one in, one out” arrangement at a joint press conference with Macron, who arrived in London on Tuesday for a three-day visit.

Under the agreement, for every migrant who arrives illegally in the UK and is returned to France in short order, one other individual will be permitted to enter Britain through a safe and legal route — provided they have not previously attempted an illegal crossing.

“Migrants arriving via small boats will be detained and returned to France in short order,” he said. “Small boats crossings will be in vain.”

Calling it a global crisis that is “acutely” a crisis for both the UK and France, Starmer said the problem stems from “an enterprise run by criminals” that is leading “hundreds of people to their deaths in the Channel.”

The pilot scheme is expected to be operational within weeks and will involve strict eligibility checks. “This will be subject to strict checks, and only available to people who have not tried to enter the UK illegally,” Starmer said.

He emphasized the importance of international cooperation. “The government has to show it can work with others on this,” he said, thanking Macron for supporting French police efforts to clamp down on boats leaving French shores.

The leaders also discussed broader UK-French cooperation, including economic ties, European security, and support for Ukraine.

Paris to be headquarters for 'coalition of the willing'

Starmer and Macron confirmed that Paris would be the new headquarters for the so-called “coalition of the willing” for Ukraine, with plans underway for a coordination cell in Kyiv.

“Following agreement on command structures for the force, leaders agreed that planning should continue on an enduring, business as usual footing, to ensure that a force can deploy in the days following the cessation of hostilities,” read a UK government statement.

“The coalition of the willing now has a plan for peacekeeping in Ukraine that is ready to be operationalized," Starmer said. "I thought it was important to do the work on that now, and not to leave it until after a ceasefire happens.”

The two leaders held virtual talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and international leaders and US representatives.

They agreed the headquarters would be in Paris and led by Britain and France to oversee all tactical and operational arrangements. The headquarters will rotate to London after the first 12 months.

Situation in Gaza 'unacceptable'

Starmer called the situation in Gaza "unacceptable," adding that recognizing Palestine has long been a policy of the Labour Party but a top priority now was to secure a ceasefire.

He said the UK's position remains the same, and there is no chance for lasting peace in the Middle East without a two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict.

UK-France nuclear weapons coordination

Starmer and Macron also signed the Northwood Declaration, a new agreement to coordinate their countries' use of nuclear weapons in response to extreme threats.

He stressed the importance of the deal. “Although I can understand why people are focusing on the small boats deal, it is important not to underestimate how important the nuclear deal is,” he said.

Macron described the agreement as a necessary response to “a markedly more threatening environment” and that it surpassed previous UK-France cooperation on nuclear issues.

“They say they cannot imagine any extreme threat to Europe that would not prompt a response from both powers. The two countries are independent and sovereign. But they will have the ability to work together,” he said.

Brexit made migration harder for UK

Macron also took aim at Brexit, arguing it had made the UK’s migration challenges more difficult.

“Some people in the UK thought Brexit would make it easier for the UK government to stop small boats,” Macron said. “But the opposite happened, because the UK was no longer bound by the Dublin convention.”

He said the newly signed agreement would take effect “as soon as the legal process has been concluded” and called it a potential “major deterrent” to irregular crossings.

Macron pushes Starmer to recognize Palestine

Macron urged the UK to recognize Palestinian statehood, framing it as a crucial step toward lasting peace in the Middle East. “I believe in the need to unite our voices—in Paris, in London, and elsewhere—to recognize the state of Palestine,” he said.