Tony Abbott: European nations should turn away refugees

Mr Abbott also warned that Western special forces soldiers may be needed on the ground in Iraq. Photo / Supplied

Tony Abbott has warned European nations they will make a "catastrophic error" if they don't secure their borders and turn back asylum seekers as Australia has done.

Delivering the Margaret Thatcher lecture at London's Guildhall on Tuesday night Mr Abbott also warned that Western special forces soldiers may be needed on the ground in Iraq and Syria to defeat Islamic State jihadists.

The recently deposed prime minister told the black tie gala banquet that Europe ran the risk of weakening itself through "misguided altruism" if borders were thrown open to all comers.