Chris Philp, the UK's immigration minister, has rejected French claims that shots fired from a naval vessel near his boat in the English Channel were part of a training exercise, accusing French authorities of not telling the truth.
Philp: French claim 'not credible'
Speaking to the media, Philp said: "The French are now claiming that the shots were a training exercise. This is not credible. There were no warnings in place about live firing training exercises. They fired the live rounds at the closest point of approach to us - and didn’t fire anything that we saw before or after. It looked and sounded exactly like deliberate intimidation."
The incident occurred as Philp was on a patrol boat observing UK Border Force operations in the Channel. French authorities initially said the shots were a warning signal but later revised their account, calling it a routine training drill.
Diplomatic tensions escalate
The exchange marks a further deterioration in UK-France relations over Channel migration. Philp's direct accusation of dishonesty is likely to strain diplomatic channels, with the UK demanding a full explanation from Paris.
According to Philp, the French vessel came within close proximity of his boat when the shots were fired. He emphasized that no prior notification of live-fire exercises had been given, and no other shots were observed before or after the incident.
The UK government has formally requested an urgent meeting with French officials to discuss the matter. Philp's comments suggest the UK views the incident as a serious breach of protocol and potentially an act of intimidation aimed at deterring UK patrols.
