The United Kingdom and Vietnam have reached a new agreement aimed at curbing illegal migration, marking what London described as the strongest accord Hanoi has ever signed with another country. The deal was finalized during a meeting in London between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Vietnamese Communist Party chief To Lam.
Under the agreement, both nations will enhance cooperation to streamline the process of returning migrants who have no legal right to remain in the UK. “The number of illegal arrivals from Vietnam has already been cut by half, but more can be done,” Starmer said, emphasizing that international collaboration, rather than political rhetoric, is key to solving migration challenges.
Vietnamese nationals have emerged as the largest group of foreign migrants arriving in Britain by small boats from continental Europe, accounting for 17% of such arrivals in the first half of 2024. According to government data, small-boat crossings made up 43,000 of the total 48,000 irregular arrivals in the year ending June 2025.
The joint declaration also includes provisions to strengthen broader UK-Vietnam ties across sectors such as energy, education, technology, and economic cooperation. The deal comes as Starmer’s government faces growing political pressure to reduce illegal migration, amid a rise in support for the populist Reform UK party and increasing public concern over immigration and living costs.