Britain and Turkey Agree to Reduce Migrant Influx into Europe

The British government has announced that it has reached an agreement with Ankara to reduce the passage of illegal migrants from Turkey to Europe. This agreement includes joint police operations between the two countries against human traffickers. On Tuesday, August 8, Britain announced that under the memorandum of understanding between the two countries, customs information will be exchanged more quickly. According to Reuters, Suella Braverman, the UK Home Secretary, described Turkey as a 'friendly and close ally' and stated that law enforcement agencies from both countries will address the logistics for small boats used to transport illegal migrants. Turkey is a significant route for human traffickers to transport asylum seekers who seek to enter Europe in hopes of a better life or to save their lives. Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of the UK, has promised that the 'number of illegal migrants' to the country will be reduced ahead of the general elections next year. This week, Britain transferred several migrants to a vessel named 'Stockholm' off its southern coast. This vessel, nearly 100 meters long, was previously a cargo ship repurposed for housing asylum seekers. The British government's actions in this regard have drawn criticism from human rights organizations. The UK Court of Appeal deemed the government's plan to transfer asylum seekers to Rwanda illegal. The UK has initiated a plan to reduce costs by transferring asylum seekers to a barge off the British coast. Italy has rescued dozens of migrants from capsized boats. The European Union's Human Rights Watch is investigating the sinking of migrant ships.