"It doesn't matter what means you use," added Donald Trump. During a visit to the United Kingdom, the American president called on London to use all means, including the military, to curb illegal immigration.

At the press conference closing his spectacular state visit to the United Kingdom, Donald Trump urged London on Thursday to take a much tougher line on illegal immigration.

Speaking at Prime Minister Keir Starmer's residence in Chequers, the US president said the British government must be prepared to "call in the military" to stem the flow of migrants crossing the Channel.

"It doesn't matter what means you use."

"You have people coming in, and as I told the Prime Minister, I will stop them, and it doesn't matter if it takes the military. It doesn't matter what means you use," Donald Trump said. He said this phenomenon of illegal immigration "destroys countries from within."

This is not exactly a new stance from the American leader, which comes just hours after the first migrant was sent back to France under the new Franco-British agreement signed last July and which came into effect at the beginning of August. According to this agreement, for every migrant sent back to France, another, currently in France, is authorized to come and settle in the United Kingdom.

“Intensify” evictions

Keir Starmer, for his part, welcomed this first expulsion, which he described as "an important step forward" and promised to "intensify the process." "It is very important that we have been able to prove that it works," he added.

According to the Home Office, the equivalent of the UK's Interior Ministry, several additional flights are already scheduled for the coming days and weeks. Migrants are also expected to arrive from France "in the coming days."