Making America a member of the Commonwealth could be a masterstroke | UK | News | EUROtoday

If true, the proposed supply of affiliate Commonwealth membership to the United States, post-Brexit and within the period of the Trump tariffs, could be a masterstroke. Donald Trump responded favourably to rumours King Charles will formally supply the US the chance to develop into the subsequent member of the 56-strong worldwide affiliation throughout the President’s subsequent State go to to Britain.

While largely symbolic, that symbolism would cement UK-US ties in a heightened period of worldwide tensions. As the Commonwealth is comprised of former British colonies, it might not be illogical to supply membership to the US. Little surprise Reform UK chief Nigel Farage wrote in response: “A Commonwealth with the USA would complete the alliance of the English-speaking peoples and help prevent the spread of CCP [Chinese Communist Party] influence.”

Indeed, given the talk raging about handing the strategic Chagos Islands to Chinese ally Mauritius, the CCP angle is particularly vital. The Chagos Islands consists of Diego Garcia, residence to a joint UK-US navy base which, whereas nonetheless leased to Britain below the phrases of the handover deal, could be vulnerable to being spied upon by Beijing.

So honest play to Sir Keir Starmer. Even critics of the PM should be even-handed of their criticism. In reality, as in so many areas, it speaks volumes that the Tories by no means made such a transfer or certainly made any critical try and re-engage with the Commonwealth.

As I argued final week, the UK ought to use this second to reunite as a lot as attainable with the Commonwealth, not least international locations with which it shares a king in Charles comparable to Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Still, symbolic although it could be, providing affiliate Commonwealth membership to the US could be all upside, not least on condition that the half-British, Anglophile and royalist Donald Trump appears so open to the concept. Britain has an honest hand to play on the world stage if it chooses to play it. This may simply be the second to display how a lot the UK is able to maximise its benefits.