The leader of Austrias conservative and far-right coalition government on Wednesday called for Germany and Italy to join an axis of the willing that would fight illegal migration.

Sebastian Kurz, a 31-year-old who became Austrian chancellor last December, made the comments during a press conference with German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer. Both men are campaigning for more border controls and tighter immigration measures at a time when Europe is strongly divided over migration.

While Kurzs hope for an axis between Rome, Vienna and Berlin has echoes of World War II, it is also reflects European far-right and conservative politicians current effort to join together to promote anti-migrant policies.

Earlier this week, Seehofer called Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini to offer support and invite him for migration talks. Salvini, who also leads the far-right Lega party, caused a diplomatic and humanitarian crisis this week after he turned away a rescue boat carrying over 600 migrants leaving it in limbo until Spain agreed to accept the vessel.

Hungarys far-right government, whose leader Viktor Orban has used the migration crisis as a pretext to crack down on civil society, is also seeking closer ties with Italy and Austria after anti-migrant parties recently became part of those countrys governments.