Britain and Vietnam strike landmark deal to curb illegal migration

LONDON: Britain has unveiled what it’s calling its “strongest-ever” deal with Vietnam to curb illegal migration, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces growing pressure to cut the number of people arriving in the UK without documentation.

The agreement, signed in London with Vietnamese leader To Lam, is designed to speed up the return of migrants who have no legal right to stay in Britain. UK officials say the deal will “cut red tape” and make deportations faster and more efficient — a key part of Starmer’s wider push to tighten border control.

Vietnamese nationals have become one of the largest groups attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats. Between January and June 2024, they made up 17% of all arrivals — the highest of any nationality. Official figures show that 43,000 of the 48,000 people who reached the UK irregularly in the year ending June 2025 made the journey by small boat.

“The number of illegal arrivals from Vietnam has already been cut by half, but there’s more to do,” Starmer told Reuters. “Today’s agreement shows that through cooperation — not confrontation — we can deliver real results for the UK and for working people.”

For Vietnam’s To Lam, who became the country’s top leader last year, the deal signals a growing openness to work with Western governments on sensitive issues like migration. Hanoi said it sees the agreement as part of a broader effort to strengthen ties with Britain and expand cooperation in areas such as energy, education, science, and technology.

A joint statement from the two governments described the pact as a way to both reduce illegal migration and build stronger political trust.

The announcement comes at a politically tense time for Starmer. Labour’s poll numbers have slipped since it took office, and immigration has risen to the top of voters’ concerns — just behind the cost of living. Facing mounting pressure from the populist Reform UK party, Starmer has promised to show “tangible progress” on border control.

Earlier this year, the UK reached a similar deal with France, allowing both countries to exchange migrants: Britain would accept legitimate asylum seekers with family links in the UK, while France would take back those intercepted in the Channel without legal status.

By striking this latest deal with Vietnam, Starmer hopes to prove that his government can deliver results through diplomacy and cooperation — not political posturing.