The United Kingdom is set to host a two-day international summit aimed at addressing the global challenge of illegal migration.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will urge representatives from over 40 nations to work together in dismantling human trafficking networks and preventing countries from being pitted against one another.

The summit, commencing on Monday, is regarded as a landmark event and is expected to produce concrete outcomes while enhancing global cooperation.

Immigration remains a politically sensitive issue, with the opposition accusing the Labour government of failing to control it effectively. 

Ahead of the discussions, the Home Office announced a £33 million investment to disrupt people-smuggling operations and bolster legal action against traffickers.

Officials from Vietnam, Albania, and Iraq—key migrant source countries—will attend the summit at Lancaster House in London, alongside representatives from France, China, and the United States. 

Delegates from the Kurdish Regional Government, Interpol, and major social media platforms, including Meta, X, and TikTok, will also participate in discussions aimed at dismantling a criminal industry valued at approximately $10 billion (£7.7 billion) annually.

With more than 6,000 migrants crossing the Channel so far in 2025—a record for the start of a year—the UK government is pushing for an internationally coordinated response. 

Sir Keir is expected to emphasize that securing Britain’s borders requires international collaboration along smuggling routes.

The summit follows a series of bilateral agreements aimed at curbing illegal arrivals. Measures include increased funding for border security, stricter right-to-work checks for gig economy workers, and tougher penalties for businesses failing to comply with immigration laws.

The UK has also launched initiatives targeting smugglers, including an advertising campaign on Vietnamese social media warning against trafficking networks.

Speaking at the summit, Sir Keir will stress the urgency of treating organised immigration crime with the same resolve as counterterrorism efforts, recalling past operations that prevented attacks on transatlantic flights.

“This brutal trade exploits legal loopholes, divides nations, and thrives on political inaction,” he is expected to say.

The Home Office has pledged that the summit will deliver tangible results for countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and North America.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1116 HRS, MAR 31, 2025
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