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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage explains "Operation Fortress" at a press conference in central London on the 3rd (local time). / EPA-Yonhap

Britain's opposition Reform UK party announced on the 3rd (local time) that, if it comes to power, it would deploy the military to the English Channel to block migrants arriving by small boat. However, political circles and experts have raised doubts over how feasible the plan actually is.

According to Reuters, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage held a press conference that day to unveil "Operation Fortress," under which migrants attempting to cross the Channel would be intercepted at sea and returned to France before they can apply for asylum.

Citing last week's incident involving the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Farage claimed that Operation Fortress could fully block migrant boats within two weeks of being carried out, describing it as what would become the largest military operation since World War II.

The announcement came as Reform UK's poll numbers have recently declined amid controversy over the party leadership's political funding and donations. The Labour Party criticized the announcement as a repackaging of existing immigration policy meant to divert public attention from the funding controversy.

Experts also pointed to legal and diplomatic constraints. Andrew Foxall, a researcher at the Henry Jackson Society think tank, explained that it would be impossible for British naval vessels to enter French territorial waters or land migrants in France without the French government's consent.

Britain's government, under its new prime minister, has also moved to address the migrant issue. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government would take decisive action to stop illegal immigration after statistics showed more than 2,000 migrants had arrived in the two weeks since he took office.

                                                                                                         Lee Jeong-eun