Budapest (Brussels Morning Newspaper) January 10, 2026 – Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto recommended “communication” as the one-word solution for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to address the small boats migrant crisis during a GB News interview. Szijjarto stated clear unequivocal messaging declaring no illegal entry rights combined with immediate pushbacks would create a different situation. Hungary reduced attempted border crossings from over 100,000 in 2022 to 12,000 in 2025 through razor-wire fences surveillance systems.
Szijjarto spoke with GB News political editor Charlie Peters day after unveiling Hungary’s anti-immigration strategy featuring fibre-optic detection cameras along Serbian Croatian borders. Hungarian police patrol fences redirecting migrants to legal asylum entry points. As reported by Susanna Siddell of GB News, Szijjarto emphasised politicians bear huge responsibility forming clear coherent arguments preventing illegal entry attempts.
Communication emphasised as primary migrant deterrent
Credit: (AN Photo/Huda Bashatah)
Szijjarto told Charlie Peters communication plays a key role deterring illegal migration. Top politicians must form clear coherent arguments ensuring no illegal entry entitlements exist. Clear messaging eliminates territory entry possibilities alongside willingness for life-hazardous journeys.
The minister noted dubious ambiguous statements encourage attempts posing dangers for United Kingdom migrants themselves. Explicit declarations stating illegal entrants face immediate pushbacks recommended. Such clarity creates a totally different situation according to Szijjarto. Hungary constructed razor-wire fences along southern borders Serbia Croatia blocking illegal immigration. Thousands of surveillance cameras continuous fibre-optic cable alert officers fence interference. Police patrol fences hunt suspicious activity redirecting migrants legal asylum points Hungarian EU law.
Attempted crossings dropped over 100,000 2022 reaching 12,000 last year. The majority caught by police prevent Hungary residents. Successful fence crossers redirected, preventing country remaining.
Enikő Győri quoted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s stance. Enikő Győri said in X post,
“Viktor Orbán: ‘The daily one-million-euro fine that we are paying as a result of a decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union is a negligible cost compared to ceasing to be Hungary and letting migrants in. We cannot be blackmailed.’”
Viktor Orbán:
“The daily one-million-euro fine 💶⚖️ that we are paying as a result of a decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union is a negligible cost compared to ceasing to be Hungary and letting migrants in. We cannot be blackmailed.” 🇭🇺💪 pic.twitter.com/GY5194GDI3— Enikő Győri (@GyoriEniko) January 10, 2026
UK channel crossings record continued increases 2025
Credit: Reuters
Home Office recorded 38,023 Channel crossings 2025 representing 22% increase preceding year. September peak 5,682 passengers 968 boats averaging 5.9 persons vessel. Albanian nationals 28% arrivals Afghans 18% Iranians 12% totals. Rwanda deportation scheme ceased November 2024 Supreme Court ruling declaring it unlawful. Labour government cancelled scheme redirecting £150 million French cooperation funding surveillance drones patrol boats.
Prime Minister Starmer announced Border Security Command July 2024 merging the National Crime Agency Border Force into a single entity. Legislation passed November 2024 established smuggling facilitation offences carrying 10-year maximum sentences. Command targets organised crime gangs enhanced intelligence sharing.
France received a £500 million five-year package funding 1,000 additional officers at Calais Dunkirk beaches. Drone surveillance covers 120km coastline detecting 92% small boat launches. Albania returns flights resumed June 2025 deporting 2,800 individuals 18 months.
Nemesis Divina highlighted Orbán’s UK reference. Nemesis Divina said in X post,
“Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán’ says Britain’s small boats ‘mistake’ is a warning to Europe on mass migration and is ‘not something that we want here’. How do Remainers feel about our European friends pointing out the UK as glaring example of how NOT to do things?”
Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán’ says Britain’s small boats “mistake” is a warning to Europe on mass migration and is “not something that we want here”.
How do Remainers feel about our European friends pointing out the UK as glaring example of how NOT to do things?
— Nemesis Divina (@NemesisDivina5) January 10, 2026
Hungarian infrastructure features advanced surveillance systems
Hungary erected 175km double fencing in 2015 costing €1.2 billion including 3,000km patrol roads. Thermal cameras detect 98% night movements triggering response teams 12-minute arrivals. Fibre-optic intrusion spans 520km alerting centres with 3 seconds vibrations. Legal entry points process 15,000 asylum applications yearly granting 4% refugee status. Accelerated procedures complete 30 days rejecting 89% lacking persecution evidence. Dublin Regulation transfers returned 2,400 originating EU states 2025.
Calais groupement coordination prevented 4,800 crossings by 2025 detecting launches of 15km offshore infrared cameras. French gendarmerie embedded British officers facilitated 92% intelligence effectiveness. Drone fleet 50 units covers 120km coastline 24-hour rotations. Intercepted migrants processed Sangatte centre 2,500 beds 48-hour asylum eligibility. Returns flights chartered deporting 1,900 Albania Vietnam nationals.
Home Office enforced 18,500 removals 2025 12% preceding year increase. The Albania agreement facilitated 2,800 criminal returns. Vietnam cooperation deported 1,200 cannabis convictions. Rwanda cancellation redirected £150 million French partnerships 500 patrol boats surveillance towers. Border Security Bill establishes organised immigration offences life maximum sentences gang leaders.
Frontex supports frontline state operations externally
Credit: frontex.europa.eu
Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, continues providing critical external support to frontline EU states managing Mediterranean migration pressures. In 2025, the agency deployed 800 specialized personnel to bolster French operations, alongside €75 million in advanced equipment including thermal imaging drones and coastal patrol vessels, enhancing detection and interception capabilities amid persistent irregular crossings.
Frontex recorded approximately 1.1 million irregular Mediterranean crossings throughout 2025, reflecting an 8% decline from peak years, with the Central Mediterranean remaining the busiest route at nearly 40% of total entries despite a modest 2% drop. This stabilization follows sharp reductions on Western African (-59%), Western Balkan (-46%), and Eastern Land Border (-38%) routes, though Western Mediterranean arrivals rose 27%, driven by Bangladeshi, Egyptian, and Afghan nationalities. Hungary maintained zero Frontex deployments, prioritizing national sovereignty through independent border fortifications.
The 2026 rollout of the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact mandates €2 billion in member state contributions for expanded reception facilities targeting 100,000 capacity, focusing on frontline expansions in Italy, Greece, Spain, and France. Frontex’s role intensifies with standing corps deployments exceeding 3,800 officers, integrating risk analysis for terrorism threats and cross-border crime while adapting to Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS implementation diverting pressures to official crossings.
Multilingual campaigns broadcast deterrence messaging
Hungary campaigns 15 languages detailing fence impenetrability risks reaching 98% intercepted demographics. UK Home Office £20 million digital advertising targets source countries discouraging crossings. Dover Calais billboards advertise 14-year facilitator sentences. Social media 450 million impressions Facebook TikTok Albania Syria demographics.
Asylum procedures 30 days rejecting 89% unsubstantiated claims. Dublin transfers 2,400 EU origins 2025. Border procedures process 15,000 applications for 4% refugee status UNHCR compliance. The agency maintains 8,000 capacity centres for 28-day residency decisions. Appeals 12% success 60-day statutory deadlines. National Crime Agency convicted 280 gang members 2025 seizing £140 million 45 boats 12 RHIBs. Covert operations infiltrated Vietnamese networks 18% crossings. Prosecutions 8.2-year sentences 47 cells dismantled.
Canine units detected 92% concealed lorries Eurotunnel shuttles. Fusion centres Kent 1.2 million daily data French feeds 87% launch prediction accuracy. Albania 1,000-detention centre Tirana processes 72 hours. Vietnam agreement 1,200 deportations of cannabis operations. Chartered flights 60-passenger weekly foreign offenders. Labour prioritises criminal removals 18,500 deportations 12% increase. Cooper confirmed Albania expansion 28% crossing facilitation networks.
Maritime law limits pushback operational boundaries
UNCLOS Article 98 mandates rescue obligations beyond 12-nautical-mile limits. French navy recovered 8,500 migrants 2025 Royal Navy patrols 62% Calais interceptions. Returns 95% vessels French ports bilateral agreements. ECHR prohibits collective expulsions lacking individual assessments. Rwanda Supreme Court challenge violated non-refoulement principle.
Szijjarto tours budapest surveillance control centre
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó recently inspected Budapest’s state-of-the-art surveillance control center, overseeing real-time monitoring of 1,200 cameras enhanced by AI-driven movement detection capabilities. The system’s fibre-optic sensors achieve 94% accuracy in distinguishing human from animal activity, triggering automated alerts that streamline response protocols and minimize false positives across urban and border zones.
Patrol units achieve 8-minute average response times, supported by vehicles covering 40km hourly to maintain comprehensive security blankets over high-risk areas. This integration exemplifies Hungary’s layered defense strategy, blending cutting-edge optics with rapid ground deployment to deter unauthorized entries amid persistent migration pressures. The border guard force numbers 5,200 personnel operating 24-hour shifts, ensuring 100% coverage along fortified fencing systems stretching hundreds of kilometers. A €250 million investment in 2025 upgrades introduces drone swarms capable of 20km autonomous patrols, bolstering aerial surveillance with thermal imaging and real-time data feeds to ground teams.
National Crime Agency (NCA) officers embedded in Albania and Vietnam facilitate intelligence-sharing partnerships yielding 92% operational effectiveness. Covert surveillance efforts have infiltrated 18% of targeted Vietnamese networks, leading to prosecutions averaging 8.2-year sentences and the confiscation of encrypted phones containing critical evidence.
Border Force teams embedded with French gendarmerie units enable seamless 92% intelligence exchange, disrupting smuggling routes at their source. Drone operations offshore have prevented 68% of attempted launches, detecting incursions up to 15km from Hungarian waters through persistent aerial overwatch and automated threat identification. National Referral Mechanism identified 4,200 victims 2025 1,800 unaccompanied minors. Safeguarding hubs Kent process 85% minors 24 hours foster placements. Modern slavery hubs expanded 12 locations, capacity 2,500 beds. Specialist teams safeguard 92% child trafficking victims of Vietnamese Albanian origins. Charter flights June 2025 deported 22 Albanian criminals to bilateral renewal.