UK Lawmaker Reacts to Trump Suggesting US Could Join British Commonwealth

Proper-wing British Member of Parliament Nigel Farage responded favorably to the thought of america becoming a member of the British Commonwealth after President Donald Trump steered on Friday it might occur.

Newsweek has reached out to the British prime minister’s workplace, Farage and the Commonwealth for touch upon Saturday.

Why It Issues

The Commonwealth is primarily comprised of former British colonies or dependencies, born out of the breakup of the British Empire within the mid-Twentieth century. Becoming a member of such a gaggle could possibly be seen as a distinct tack to Trump’s different messages on teams such because the North Atlantic Treaty Group (NATO) and the United Nations (U.N.), which he has been skeptical of.

The U.S., then the 13 authentic colonies, fought the American Revolution for independence from the British from 1775 to 1783. Regardless of these preliminary tensions, the U.S. and the UK have maintained an exceptionally shut alliance for the reason that World Wars of the Twentieth century.

What to Know

Farage, chief of Reform UK and a key advocate for the profitable 2016 Brexit referendum, posted about the potential for the U.S. becoming a member of the Commonwealth on Friday after Trump reacted to the thought earlier.

“A Commonwealth with the USA would complete the alliance of the English-speaking peoples and help prevent the spread of CCP influence. I helped to launch the Royal Commonwealth Society of America in 2017,” the member of parliament, who has been an in depth worldwide ally of Trump for years, wrote on X, previously Twitter.

Trump shared an article on Friday morning from British tabloid The Solar reporting that King Charles III was making a “secret offer” to the White Home, and that plans are in course of for the U.S. to change into an affiliate member of the worldwide group.

“I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!” Trump wrote in response to the report. The president once more posted a hyperlink to the article on Saturday morning.

Based on The Day by day Mail, the king is predicted to supply to make the U.S. the 57th member of the Commonwealth at a time when America’s relationship with the European Union (EU) has been strained over Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

The supply is being seen as a approach to bolster the U.S. and United Kingdom’s so-called “special relationship”, regardless of America having famously break up from British rule within the 1700s. The 2 international locations have steadily labored collectively on international coverage within the Twentieth and twenty first centuries.

Whereas becoming a member of the Commonwealth would largely be symbolic, because the group doesn’t have an effect on governance of its member nations, the transfer might doubtlessly be used to assist keep away from the heightened tariffs on metal and aluminum Trump has promised, in accordance with The Day by day Mail.

Trump has proven his assist for the British royal household for a few years and visited Buckingham Palace as a part of a state go to throughout his first time period within the White Home. The thought to affix the Commonwealth was first floated throughout that 2017-2021 time period.

The king invited Trump again to the U.Ok. for one more go to in a letter hand-delivered by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on his late February journey to the White Home. On the assembly, Trump described King Charles III as “a beautiful man.”

What Individuals Are Saying

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at roundtable with U.S. enterprise leaders on February 27: “There is no more important relationship for the United Kingdom, in defense, in security, in trade, in tech, in finance and so much more.”

King Charles III in a press release on Commonwealth Day on March 10: “In these uncertain times, where it is all too easy to believe that our differences are problems instead of a source of strength and an opportunity for learning, the Commonwealth’s remarkable collection of nations and peoples come together in the spirit of support and, crucially, friendship…The Commonwealth’s ability to bring together people from all over the world has stood the test of time and remains as ever-important today.”

What Occurs Subsequent?

It stays to be seen whether or not the U.S. will really be a part of the Commonwealth. Within the Americas, Canada is a part of the group of countries, as are a number of Caribbean nations.