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As Britain leaves the EU, I have already advocated that we join EFTA and NAFTA as post-Brexit trade options. However, there is a wonderful third option we should take advantage of, the British Commonwealth. The British Commonwealth comprises of former colonies from the British Empire. As a member of the European Union, the UK could not strike its own trade deals, this left the Commonwealth rather detached from Britain, now we have left the EU I advocate Britain should re-engage with our Commonwealth friends.
There are many reasons Britain reuniting with the Anglosphere is a good idea, one is language, all Commonwealth nations recognise English as one of their official languages. The second is common law, Anglo-citizens are some of the freest people on planet Earth. I believe it is in the national interest we rebuild alliances with citizens we share so much in common with. To properly rebuild the UK’s geopolitical power on the global stage I recommend the UK to follow the project for a new Anglospheric century.
The project for a new Anglospheric century does not aim to make the Commonwealth into an EU type structure, neither does it aim to rebuild the old colonial system. The aim of the project is to create an alliance of sovereign nations who share common language, common law, trade together and work together on national security, but control their own affairs.
The first aim of the project is to build a trading alliance known as the Commonwealth market, this would be a little bit similar to the EU single market. The Commonwealth market would be a tariff-free trading zone across all Commonwealth nations with three principles. The free movement of goods, services and capital, unlike the European Union’s single market, free movement of people will not be a requirement. Indiviudal member states are free to conduct their own immigration policy, Commonwealth nations will also be free to sign trade deals around the world. However, all Commonwealth nations would have to abide by WTO global trading standards.
The second aim of the project is to establish NATO-style defence arrangements across the Commonwealth. The UK will train and arm all Commonwealth armies, Commonwealth nations will use the same tanks and weapons as the UK. In addition, all Commonwealth nations will have a common foreign policy, meaning we would all agree to the same allies and axis, this stops any Commonwealth nation from attacking a UK ally. Although Commonwealth nations will maintain close ties on national security, they will be free to conduct unilateral military action against external threats. However, if an external threat attacks a Commonwealth nation-state, it would be a declaration of war on the British Commonwealth.
Commonwealth nations will also be free to participate in a voluntary Commonwealth army, member states who participate in the scheme will be required to volunteer 10% of their state military to the Commonwealth defence force. Any participating member will be free to use Commonwealth troops as well as state troops in they face an external threat. However, if member states want to opt-out of the scheme, they are free to do so, although, they will not be able to use the Commonwealth army if they decide to attack an external threat.
The third aim of the project is to establish a human rights criteria for all Commonwealth nations. The human rights criteria will use a points-based system measuring fair trials, private property rights, voting rights and speech rights. If a Commonwealth nation fails to meet an acceptable standard of civil rights, Commonwealth membership will be denied or terminated. It is unacceptable for Mugabe style dictatorships to be allowed entry, Anglo-citizens must be among the freest in the world.
I believe with the threat of North Korea, Venezuela, Iran, Russia, China and radical terrorists, it is in the national interest of post-Brexit Britain to restore links with the British Commonwealth using the project for a new Anglospheric century. Under this project, post-Brexit Britain will be trading with over 2 billion English speaking citizens who share common law. I urge Britain to build this alliance with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Botswana, Namibia, Sri-Lanka and Jordan. The project for a new Anglospheric democracy would guarantee post-Brexit Britain national and economic security.
This post was originally published by the author on his personal blog: http://lukedanceblog.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/the-british-commonwealth-and-project.html
Hello Luke,
Great article. I naturally agree that the Commonwealth of Nations will be key in the 21st Century, too. Your proposals make sense, but I do have some queries. Re the ‘Commonwealth Market’, CANZUK would want the Four Freedoms, which may strain the relationship, but I doubt it. Also, I wonder whether ‘CommCorps’ might be a step too far at the moment; might it be more politically palatable to have a Commonwealth HQ? (it’s worked in Japan, Korea and Zimbabwe)
One last thing – why did you add Jordan to the list? They’re one of the few nations that technically could apply for membership but haven’t (the other main one being their neighbour, Israel).
Isaac
Hi, Isaac, the free movement of people within CANZUK could be done as a unilateral agreement between those nations. If nations wanted free movement of people, they are welcome, but in my proposal, nations can also opt-out.
I have Jordan because they are a key strategic ally in that region, I do believe Britain should have a closer relationship with the Hashemites. English is widely spoken in Jordan as well.
As for the Commonwealth army, that’s just an idea, at the very least we should have NATO-style agreements across the Commonwealth.
Hello Luke.
I fully agree, my only concern was a repeat of India’s demands in 1947 that there should not be a ‘two-tier’ Commonwealth, but CANZUK can be treated as a totally separate issue.
I think Jordan would be a key non-Commonwealth ally; Bahrain is another Arab partner which serves as the host for the RN’s East of Suez presence.
And I’m not slighting ideas by any means – the more the merrier. NATO Agreements would be a logical continuation. I have previously argued that Canada and India should be invited to join the Five Power Defence Agreement, which already provides a weak framework for a ‘Commonwealth Defence Organisation’.