Rishi Sunak has said illegal migration is "unsustainable" on a state visit to Italy on 16 December.
UK's Prime Minister said: “If we do not tackle this problem, the numbers will only grow. It will overwhelm our countries and our capacity to help those who actually need our help the most."
Mr Sunak added: "We are both determined to break the business model of these criminal gangs."
The rhetoric comes as hardliners on the Tory right push Rishi Sunak to block interference from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the UN Refugee Convention amid efforts to stop Channel crossings.
He had warm praise for Italian prime minster Giorgia Meloni, at whose Brothers of Italy annual Atreju event he was speaking.
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