Jack Rankin: The case for CANZUK is solid, and the time really is now
We're watching the same failure loop.
Jack Rankin is the Member of Parliament for Windsor.
As I write this, bombs are flying over the Middle East. War is raging in Eastern Europe. An increasingly revanchist China is threatening its neighbours. And across the world, national governments are realigning their geopolitical stances to adapt to this new world we find ourselves in after decades of relative peace.
Britain should be doing the same.
Our departure from the European Union saw an opportunity to rethink Britain’s place in the world – now, the increased unpredictability of our relationship with a United States, presents another challenge. We should use these opportunities to strengthen relationships with countries that share our institutions, our outlook, and out strategic interests. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are the obvious places to begin – with the goal being a new bloc with the four nations named CANZUK.
As the Member of Parliament for Windsor, the home of our shared monarchy, I am constantly reminded of the close ties Britain holds with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. His Majesty is one symbol of those ties, with shared institutions and culture being others. Our close relationships were proven last week, when the Conservative Friends of CANZUK (of which I am vice-President) hosted Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, for a CANZUK drinks reception. The following day at the Centre for Policy Studies’ Annual Thatcher Lecture, Mr Poilievre expanded on his particular CANZUK vision.
But this phenomenon doesn’t just exist on the Centre-Right though. Britain appointed Mark Carney – a Centre-Left figure in Canada – as Governor of the Bank of England. How many countries would accept a foreigner as governor of their national bank? Not many I’d wager – but we don’t really see Canadians are foreigners, do we? It is unlikely that Brits would have approved a non-Brit holding this position unless they came from a country with such deep ties to Britain as someone from a CANZUK nation.
With the Canadian Leader of the Opposition was in London, the very same Mark Carney, now Canadian Prime Minster was signing a new critical minerals agreement with his Australian counterpart. That is not nostalgia – that is very real twenty-first century geopolitics. In New Zealand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has been calling for CANZUK for almost a decade.
The foundations of CANZUK are historical as well as strategic. Our ties are deeper than being purely diplomatic. In the First World War, British forces fought on the Somme, Canadian identity was being forged at Vimy Ridge, and Australians and New Zealanders at Gallipoli. Our armed forces have fought alongside each other for more than a century. Constitutional traditions across the nations are closely related, with …
We're watching the same failure loop.
Jack Rankin is the Member of Parliament for Windsor.
As I write this, bombs are flying over the Middle East. War is raging in Eastern Europe. An increasingly revanchist China is threatening its neighbours. And across the world, national governments are realigning their geopolitical stances to adapt to this new world we find ourselves in after decades of relative peace.
Britain should be doing the same.
Our departure from the European Union saw an opportunity to rethink Britain’s place in the world – now, the increased unpredictability of our relationship with a United States, presents another challenge. We should use these opportunities to strengthen relationships with countries that share our institutions, our outlook, and out strategic interests. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are the obvious places to begin – with the goal being a new bloc with the four nations named CANZUK.
As the Member of Parliament for Windsor, the home of our shared monarchy, I am constantly reminded of the close ties Britain holds with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. His Majesty is one symbol of those ties, with shared institutions and culture being others. Our close relationships were proven last week, when the Conservative Friends of CANZUK (of which I am vice-President) hosted Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, for a CANZUK drinks reception. The following day at the Centre for Policy Studies’ Annual Thatcher Lecture, Mr Poilievre expanded on his particular CANZUK vision.
But this phenomenon doesn’t just exist on the Centre-Right though. Britain appointed Mark Carney – a Centre-Left figure in Canada – as Governor of the Bank of England. How many countries would accept a foreigner as governor of their national bank? Not many I’d wager – but we don’t really see Canadians are foreigners, do we? It is unlikely that Brits would have approved a non-Brit holding this position unless they came from a country with such deep ties to Britain as someone from a CANZUK nation.
With the Canadian Leader of the Opposition was in London, the very same Mark Carney, now Canadian Prime Minster was signing a new critical minerals agreement with his Australian counterpart. That is not nostalgia – that is very real twenty-first century geopolitics. In New Zealand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has been calling for CANZUK for almost a decade.
The foundations of CANZUK are historical as well as strategic. Our ties are deeper than being purely diplomatic. In the First World War, British forces fought on the Somme, Canadian identity was being forged at Vimy Ridge, and Australians and New Zealanders at Gallipoli. Our armed forces have fought alongside each other for more than a century. Constitutional traditions across the nations are closely related, with …
Jack Rankin: The case for CANZUK is solid, and the time really is now
We're watching the same failure loop.
Jack Rankin is the Member of Parliament for Windsor.
As I write this, bombs are flying over the Middle East. War is raging in Eastern Europe. An increasingly revanchist China is threatening its neighbours. And across the world, national governments are realigning their geopolitical stances to adapt to this new world we find ourselves in after decades of relative peace.
Britain should be doing the same.
Our departure from the European Union saw an opportunity to rethink Britain’s place in the world – now, the increased unpredictability of our relationship with a United States, presents another challenge. We should use these opportunities to strengthen relationships with countries that share our institutions, our outlook, and out strategic interests. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are the obvious places to begin – with the goal being a new bloc with the four nations named CANZUK.
As the Member of Parliament for Windsor, the home of our shared monarchy, I am constantly reminded of the close ties Britain holds with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. His Majesty is one symbol of those ties, with shared institutions and culture being others. Our close relationships were proven last week, when the Conservative Friends of CANZUK (of which I am vice-President) hosted Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, for a CANZUK drinks reception. The following day at the Centre for Policy Studies’ Annual Thatcher Lecture, Mr Poilievre expanded on his particular CANZUK vision.
But this phenomenon doesn’t just exist on the Centre-Right though. Britain appointed Mark Carney – a Centre-Left figure in Canada – as Governor of the Bank of England. How many countries would accept a foreigner as governor of their national bank? Not many I’d wager – but we don’t really see Canadians are foreigners, do we? It is unlikely that Brits would have approved a non-Brit holding this position unless they came from a country with such deep ties to Britain as someone from a CANZUK nation.
With the Canadian Leader of the Opposition was in London, the very same Mark Carney, now Canadian Prime Minster was signing a new critical minerals agreement with his Australian counterpart. That is not nostalgia – that is very real twenty-first century geopolitics. In New Zealand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has been calling for CANZUK for almost a decade.
The foundations of CANZUK are historical as well as strategic. Our ties are deeper than being purely diplomatic. In the First World War, British forces fought on the Somme, Canadian identity was being forged at Vimy Ridge, and Australians and New Zealanders at Gallipoli. Our armed forces have fought alongside each other for more than a century. Constitutional traditions across the nations are closely related, with …
