Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: THE UK military is focused on defending the nation rather than stopping asylum seekers from crossing the Channel, a Cabinet minister has said, reported BBC. US President Donald Trump suggested that military intervention could be used to deal with illegal migration to the UK during his state visit earlier this week.
But Trade Secretary Peter Kyle has rejected that call, saying the UK Border Force has specific responsibility for policing UK borders. Trump suggested military force was a better deterrent than the Labour Government’s approach of diplomatic negotiations agreeing returns and toughening up court guidance.
Speaking alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a press conference, Trump suggested such force was needed as illegal migration “destroys countries from within”.
He said, “You have people coming in and I told the prime minister I would stop it, and it doesn’t matter if you call out the military, it doesn’t matter what means you use.”
Asked about the US president’s claims, Kyle said, “Well, what he suggested was the military are used, but we have the UK Border Force that is now established and has been reinforced and bolstered and have new powers under this government. “The navy actually does have a working relationship with the UK Border Force, and the navy can be called upon if needed, so we do have the functional relationship that we need between our military and keeping our borders safe and secure.
“But what we really need at the moment is our military focused on all of those really key issues around the world, directly relating to our national defence.” Trump has issued a series of executive orders implementing a broad ban on asylum for migrants entering at the southern border and has sent in troops to assist border security efforts.
The arrests of migrants by the US Border Patrol have been decreasing since Trump took office.
The Conservatives and Reform UK are calling for tougher action on migration, with Reform saying it would bar anyone who comes to the UK on small boats from claiming asylum.
