By Elizabeth Pineau and Elizabeth Piper LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will announce tougher migration controls on Thursday, capping a state visit when they agreed to deeper defence and nuclear cooperation in a more volatile world.

Downing Street has said it expects to "make good progress" on tackling small boats crossing the Channel during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Britain.

It's widely expected they will emerge with a deal on small boat crossings, as it comes just one day after Downing Street said France and the UK had agreed that the two countries needed a new deterrent...

“France is one of our strongest allies as well as a country for which my wife and I have deep affection, personally.”

Macron said Europe must strengthen its economy and defenses and reduce its dependence “on both the U.S. and China.”