Shabana Mahmood will host ministers from the Five Eyes security alliance for talks on tackling people smuggling and child sexual exploitation this week. The meeting represents the Home Secretary's first major international engagement since taking office.
The London talks will bring together counterparts from the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The alliance aims to coordinate efforts against organised crime networks that span multiple continents.
International cooperation strategy
Mahmood said: "Rebuilding our reputation on the world stage is how we tackle serious organised crime and secure our borders." She emphasised that the government has already begun resetting relationships with international partners across multiple fronts.
"We have already reset our relationship with the EU, struck a people smuggling deal with the G7 and operationalised a first-of its-kind returns agreement with France," Mahmood said. "Today, we will agree new measures to protect our borders with our Five Eyes partners, hitting people smugglers hard."
United alliance approach
The Home Secretary highlighted the strength that comes from international cooperation despite geographical distances. She stressed that modern security threats require coordinated responses across borders.
"The Five Eyes might be drawn from different corners of the globe, but we are united by our alliance," Mahmood said. "As the security threats we all face become more complex and span continents, we are stronger and safer together."
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
