British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his intention to seek worldwide changes in the asylum system, citing concerns that the increasing number of refugees could overwhelm certain areas in Europe.
In a speech delivered in Italy, Sunak, in some of his most forthright comments yet, discussed the need to overhaul the global asylum system. This comes as he endeavors to rejuvenate his government’s controversial initiative to relocate refugees to Rwanda.
Speaking at a political event hosted by the party of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the UK leader highlighted the challenges posed by certain “enemies” who, he claimed, are pushing people towards European shores with the intent of destabilizing societies.
He stressed the urgency of addressing this issue to prevent an unsustainable influx of refugees, which could strain countries’ abilities to assist those in dire need.
Sunak suggested that this might involve revising existing laws and leading global discussions to modify post-war asylum frameworks. His comments echo those of Britain’s former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who earlier called for amendments to the United Nations Refugee Convention.
This convention requires signatories to provide asylum to individuals fleeing persecution and has been a significant legal obstacle to the UK government’s plans to deter small boat crossings and process asylum-seekers in Rwanda.
In related developments, Britain and Italy have recently announced a joint initiative to fund the return of migrants stranded in Tunisia, though the exact financial commitment remains unspecified.
Additionally, last month, Italy reached an agreement with Albania to establish sea migrant reception centers in Albania. This move aims to manage the increasing number of migrants, which has nearly doubled over the past year.
Sunak’s leadership recently faced a critical test when he secured a parliamentary vote on an emergency bill to reactivate his Rwandan asylum seeker plan, overcoming opposition from within his party.
