Elizabeth Morgan | Would US becoming an associate member of the Commonwealth be a masterstroke?

IT HAS been rumoured, and widely publicised in the international media, that King Charles II will be offering the USA, under President Donald Trump, associate membership of the Commonwealth. President Trump in an impromptu response indicated that this might be a good idea; he loves the king. There is an interesting article in the UK’s Daily Express of Monday, March 24, titled ‘Making America a member of the Commonwealth would be a masterstroke’. So, this would be welcomed, a great strategic move by Britain, and for the author, seems would be a fait accompli. It was noted that The Gleaner editorial of Sunday, March 23, titled ‘A Commonwealth Umbrella’, did not take note of this proposal.

From other articles, it seems that this proposal was broached back in 2017 by current leader of the ultra-conservative UK Reform Party, Nigel Farage, and Steve Bannon, US conservative media executive, who was a senior advisor to President Trump in 2017. It may also have been raised by the non-governmental Royal Commonwealth Society. It seems that nothing came of this 2017 proposal.

WHAT IS THE COMMONWEALTH?

From about 1926, the Commonwealth evolved into a voluntary international organisation, initially, of sovereign countries which had been members of the British Empire. It now has members who were not in the British Empire. There were also Empire members who withdrew or never joined.

The Commonwealth now has a membership of 56 independent, sovereign countries from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, North America, and Oceania/Pacific. Most are republics and 15 are independent realm states, meaning they are monarchies, with King Charles as their head of state. The realm states are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and the United Kingdom.

King Charles II is the symbolic head of the Commonwealth as agreed by the members. The new Commonwealth Secretary General, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey of Ghana, will assume the post on April 1 at the Secretariat (Marlborough House) in London.

HOW DOES A COUNTRY BECOME A MEMBER?

Full members of the Commonwealth must be sovereign, independent states.

As of 2007, it is recorded that the membership of the modern Commonwealth does not depend on an applicant being formerly part of the British Empire. Members must commit to accept and comply with the fundamental values, principles, and priorities established in the 1971 Declaration of Commonwealth Principles and contained in other subsequent declarations. There is a four-step process for membership which includes members agreeing to contribute to the budget.

Associate members of the Commonwealth have customarily been overseas territories of its members. There does not seem to be a formal category of associate members for other nation states. This would have to be created with its rights and obligations defined.

The decision on membership is taken by the members at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the decision is by consensus, after prior consultations. Note that the next CHOGM is scheduled to be held in Antigua and Barbuda in 2026.

THE ROLE OF BRITAIN

Britain is currently a member of the Commonwealth and the host of its headquarters. Although King Charles is head of the Commonwealth, Britain cannot unilaterally determine which country will become a member or whether to include associate members.

US ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP NOT A MASTERSTROKE

First, as stated, it would have to be determined what associate membership for a country like the USA would mean; what would be the benefits? In terms of a link to the membership, the 13 original colonies in the Americas were under British rule from 1607 to 1776 when the colonies rebelled against British rule and sought independence in 1776, 250 years ago next year. Recall that under its Constitution/laws, for the USA to join an international organisation, this would have to be approved by Congress, specifically the Senate.

As also stated above, the members of the Commonwealth would have to agree. Now the question is, why should they agree to such a proposal under the current Trump administration, when the following have to be considered?:

1. The threat to annex Canada and make it the US’ 51st state;

2. A souring relationship between South Africa and the USA;

3. Concerns about the reliability of the USA as an ally;

4. Concerns about national and global economic stability as the USA applies increased tariffs, threatens more, and applies other sanctions on members of the Commonwealth;

5. The US is not now supporting climate change and has withdrawn from the UN Paris Accord and denounced the UN Sustainable Development Goals, important matters in the Commonwealth;

6. The US is now reviewing its relationship with the multilateral UN system it helped to create, having also withdrawn from the World Health Organization; and

7. It now seems necessary to have alliances independent of the USA.

This proposal might be a masterstroke, if Britain were the only decision-maker in the Commonwealth and wanted to proffer such an offer. At this time, however, other members may not see it as such.

This does not look like a wise proposal to be taken seriously.

Elizabeth Morgan is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Send feedback to columns@gleanrjm.com