Earlier, france threatened to cut off electricity to the island of jersey over delays in the issuing of fishing licenses to French boats under a new system, with the jersey Foreign Affairs Minister blaming the “confusing” post-Brexit trade deal negotiated between the UK and European Union last year for the impasse.
As tempers flare over post-Brexit fishing rights to waters around the largest Channel island, the UK is dispatching two Royal Navy river-class patrol boats to the area around Jersey amid fears of a blockade by French fishing vessels. A fleet of French boats is already on course for Jersey, reported Sky News.
The Portsmouth-based HMS Severn and HMS Tamar deployed on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, to Jersey, a Crown dependency, armed with cannons and two on-deck machine guns.
The deployment echoes the cod wars of the 1970s, which saw violent clashes between British vessels and Icelandic fishers. The move was announced by Downing Street as a “precautionary measure” ahead of planned protests by French fishermen at Jersey's port of St. Helier, reported The Guardian.
It also comes in the wake of France's threat to cut off the island's electricity; Jersey began issuing licenses to French boats under a new, post-Brexit system last week.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed “unwavering support” for Jersey, located 14 miles (22 km) off the coast of France, insisting on Wednesday…
