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Armed Royal Navy ships are preparing to patrol UK fishing waters in an apparent final warning shot to Brussels as negotiations enter the last 48 hours.
Four of the 80-meter boats are on standby to protect UK waters from EU fishermen in the event that no agreement on fishing rights is reached after the Brexi The transition period ends on December 31.
The Defense Ministry, confirming the move, said that the deployment of the ships had been agreed as part of planning for the end of the transition period.
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No-deal Brexit ‘looks very, very likely’
According to The Times, patrol powers will be strengthened with Navy officers authorized to board foreign vessels and arrest fishermen if no agreement is reached.
Fishing has been one of the sticking points in the talks, which are rapidly drawing to a close on Sunday and both sides say no deal likely.
Access to the others’ waters will end next year, although Brussels has asked that the current terms continue for 12 months, a request that appears to have been rejected.
Conservative MPs have urged Boris Johnson to ensure that UK waters are protected should the talks collapse.
Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski tweeted: “In case no agreement is reached with the EU on Sunday, we must receive absolute assurance from Boris Johnson that British naval forces will be deployed from 1 January to prevent illegal French fishing in our waters. “
On Friday, the prime minister met with Prime Minister Michael Gove, who is responsible for Brexit planning, and other officials to “take stock” of the government’s plans for a no-deal exit.
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The talks are set to continue throughout the weekend, although European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed on Friday that the two sides “have not yet found solutions to bridge our differences” on fisheries.
He urged the government to “understand the legitimate expectations of the EU fishing fleets based on decades, and sometimes centuries, of access.”
Meanwhile, Johnson said he was “hopeful” that progress can be made.
“But I have to tell you, from my point of view now … it seems very, very likely that we will have to find a solution that I think would be wonderful for the UK, and we would be able to do exactly what we want from January. “, said.
