Keir Starmer will become the first Prime Minister to make an official visit to Albania, where he will announce a task force targeting people smugglers will be beefed up
Keir Starmer will today announce British drones will be used to target gangsters and people smugglers during a historic visit to Albania.
The PM says a taskforce will be beefed up in the Western Balkans to clampdown on trafficking gangs and intercept migrants before they reach the UK. He will meet Albanian leaders today to discuss ways to ramp up security and defence ahead of a crucial European leader meeting tomorrow.
It will be the first official visit by a UK Prime Minister to the Balkan nation. Mr Starmer is expected to annouce the Joint Migration Task Force with Albania and Kosovo will be expanded to include North Macedonia and Montenegro.
The Government says this will be crucial in closing off a key route for people crossing Europe aiming for the UK. Mr Starmer will meet Albanian leader Edi Rama, with the pair expected to agree a string of new measures to target people traffickers.
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These will include improved DNA sharing which has already identified 55 criminals including murderers and rapists in the UK. And new steps will be taken to stop Albanians deported from the UK from trying to come back – including investing in employment programmes. Mr Starmer said: “Global challenges need shared solutions, and the work the UK and Albania is doing together is delivering security for working people in both countries.
“And our joint work to deter, detect and return illegal migrants is further proof that intervening upstream to protect British shores and secure our borders is the right approach. Every step we take to tackle illegal migration overseas, cripple the criminal networks that facilitate it and stem the finance streams that fund it is delivering safer streets in the UK, and reducing the strain on taxpayer funded services.”
Mr Starmer will visit the Port of Durres during his two-day visit to capital Tirana to get a first-hand look at efforts to intercept people smugglers, and deter would-be migrants. The UK will donate two forgery detection machines to the Albanian State Police to check for fake or stolen passports.
Both countries will discuss a new programme that will include support for returned Albanians to get work. And £1million will be invested in forensics in Albania to help identify dangerous criminals.
There were 5,294 Albanians returned in 2024, official records show. The number of nationals arriving by small boat dropping by small boat plummeting by 95% after the previous government reached a returns deal.
The visit comes days after the PM unveiled a migration white paper which is expected to cut net migration by around 100,000 a year. Controversial measures include an end to social care visas and a requirment to have a degree to qualify as a skilled worker in most sectors.
Tomorrow Mr Starmer will attend the European Political Community summit, where he will convene a roundtable on Defence and Security.
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