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September 9th, 2021 
Awake Goy 
France stressed on Thursday it will not tolerate any “financial blackmail” or flouting of international law after the UK said it planned to turn back migrant boats crossing the English Channel.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin wrote on Twitter that “France will not accept any practice contrary to the law of the sea, nor any financial blackmail”.
“Britain’s commitment must be kept,” he said, adding: “The friendship between our two countries deserves better than posturing that undermines cooperation between our services.”
The warning comes after Darmanin met with his British counterpart, Priti Patel, on the sidelines of a meeting of G7 interior ministers in London on Wednesday, during which Patel demanded French authorities do more to stem the flow of migrants reaching UK shores.
Several British news outlets reported on Thursday that British Border Force staff were to receive training on how to turn back migrant boats before they reach the coast.
Darmanin had raised concerns over such pushback tactics in a letter to Patel on Monday, which he said, “would risk having a negative impact on our cooperation”.
“We call on the British government to be cautious about the announced use of operating methods to combat attempted sea crossings, which would not only be dangerous for the men, women and children on board these boats but would also be contrary to international law,” he also said.
Paris and London announced in July that the UK would pay France €62.7 million in 2021-2022 to clamp down on illegal immigration via the English Channel. The money was to go towards doubling the numbers of officers patrolling the coast and increasing technology and vehicles to boost surveillance.
Dozens of women, men and children, wrapped up in blankets, were brought ashore Wednesday in the southeast England port of Dover by British Border Force boats after being picked up from dinghies in the Channel.
Thousands of migrants have landed on beaches in southeast England in recent days amid calm, summery weather, with 785 arriving on Monday alone, according to Britain’s Home Office. More than 12,000 have made the crossing this year, according to Britain’s Press Association news agency. In 2020, about 8,500 people made the journey, and several died in the attempt.
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