Further, she said, instability in the region could lead to more, rather than less, illegal migration.
And while the U.K. already places a great emphasis in talks with allies on countering Russian interference, it would have to answer some acute questions pretty soon — such as how to maintain the peacekeeping force on the Kosovan-Serbian border, which Russia wants to block.
There is also a certain weariness with Britain’s current approach on the world stage, as it seeks measures to tackle illegal migration in every possible international forum to the exclusion of other topics.
Ahead of the meeting Cooper underlined her priorities by announcing £10 million for programs to tackle people smuggling in the Western Balkans and a redeployment of FCDO staff to focus more officials on migration.
But as Hoxhaj put it: “There’s this feeling that this is not such a major political issue in our country, this is more sort of a U.K. issue, so why would we be willing to help out?”
A diplomat from one country attending the summit, granted anonymity to speak frankly, said Britain had a level of “fixation” with small boats in particular, which they found “difficult to understand.”
If sounding like a broken record does eventually deliver the U.K.’s sought-after migration deal, then Starmer may consider it a small price.