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Delegates from 40 nations, including the US, China, and France, are attending a two-day summit in London focused on combating illegal migration.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, launching the event, condemned people-smuggling as a "vile trade" that exploits political divisions between countries. He urged cooperation rather than competition among nations.
The summit, considered the first of its kind, aims to develop effective strategies, with the UK government hopeful for tangible solutions. Immigration remains a key political issue, with the Conservatives and Reform UK criticizing Labour’s handling of the matter.
Sir Keir wants the UK to take a leadership role in addressing irregular migration. Officials from Vietnam, Albania, and Iraq—countries where many migrants originate—joined representatives from France, China, and the US at London's Lancaster House.
Tech firms Meta, X, and TikTok also participated, alongside Kurdish leaders and Interpol, to explore ways to disrupt the people-smuggling industry, estimated to be worth $10bn (£7.7bn) annually.
Starmer highlighted the significance of the gathering, calling it an unprecedented global effort to combat organized immigration crime.
In 2025, over 6,000 people have crossed the Channel so far, marking a record start for small boat arrivals. Since taking office, the government has pursued agreements with other countries to curb these crossings.
Labour had pledged to scrap the previous administration’s Rwanda scheme, advocating for international collaboration along migration routes as the best approach. Since July, the government claims to have deported over 24,000 individuals who had no legal right to remain in the UK.
