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Dec. 31 marks the end of the Brexit transition period and a no-deal outcome looks increasingly likely. Negotiations remain stalled on fisheries, governance and a level playing field.
As the deadline approaches, tensions between the UK and the EU have reached a boiling point with neither side being able to reach an agreement.
Now, the Defense Ministry has said it is ready to deploy an additional 14,000 military to be on standby by January 1.
Channel 4 News’ Paul McNamara tweeted: “The Armed Forces are ready for January 1.
“The Ministry of Defense tells me that there are 14,000 additional people waiting [and] 4 Offshore Patrol Vessels Patrolling UK Waters “.
One of the main issues in the negotiations has been fishing rights and quotas, as the EU has tried to pressure to maintain its rights over Britain’s fishing waters.
Under the controversial Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), all member states have access to EU waters through quotas.
Given that the UK has a large coastal area, critics have often argued that the system is unfair.
During the negotiations, France has been the one that most expressed its concern about the final concessions, and countries like Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark also expressed their concern.
READ MORE: ‘It’s a fact!’ EU fishing comments criticized when No. 10 reiterates plan
According to an EU official, he said that “the probability of no agreement is greater than that of an agreement.”
He warned that it would be “difficult” to try to reach agreement on key points such as the so-called level playing field and fishing rights.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Blyth in Northumberland, the Prime Minister said: “Unfortunately, at this time, as you know, there are two key things that we cannot seem to move forward on.
“And that’s kind of a ratchet clause that they have put in to keep the UK locked into whatever they want to do in terms of legislation, which obviously doesn’t work.
“And then there’s the whole fish issue, where we have to be able to regain control of our waters. So there is a way to go, we are hopeful that progress can be made.”
“But I have to say that from my point of view now, here at Blyth, 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 from January.
“Obviously it would be different from what we had set out to achieve, but I have no doubt that this country can prepare and, as I say, come out on the terms of World Trade.”
Without a deal, EU vessels would be banned from fishing in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Macron was asked about his stance on Friday, in which the French president said: “I’m not asking for my cake and eat it, no.”
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