- Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has unveiled 'Operation Fortress', a plan to deploy Royal Navy ships to intercept and return small boats carrying migrants from France or Belgium, describing it as the largest military operation in the English Channel since World War Two.
- The proposed scheme involves a joint military command utilising units from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, RAF, and British Army to track and intercept unauthorised boats, providing medical assessment, food, and water before escorting occupants back to France or Belgium.
- The plan has drawn significant criticism from political opposition and former navy officers, who question its legality, feasibility, and effectiveness, citing a lack of available naval resources and the unsuitability of warships for such operations.
- Downing Street highlighted that previous Royal Navy involvement in 2022 did not reduce crossings, suggesting border patrol officers are better suited, while Labour dismissed the announcement as a 'reheated' gimmick lacking detailed funding or a plan for French cooperation.
- Nigel Farage insists the plan complies with international law, will save lives, assist France, and protect the UK from 'invasion', proposing the use of River-class offshore patrol vessels for interception without employing 'pushbacks'.
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