Should the UK focus more on intergration with mainland Euro nations, or USA/Canada/Aus/NZ/?

[CtrlAltDe1337]

Well I was thinking about this the other day. Do you think the UK should focus more energy on building up relations and better integration with former parts of the British Empire like USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland? Maybe you could scrap Ireland because of the tensions between the two countries, but you get the idea. Or should they focus on integration into the Continent with the EU and other measures? Both are obviously important, since the UK is part of Europe, and has very close cultural ties with former colonies, which are sort of a lot of "Britains" outside of Europe. We speak the same language, have very similar culture, and share many of the same foreign policy objectives. We have many of the same enemies as well. The same could be said about Ireland to a certain extent, but not as much.

Being European, Britain has a lot of interest of the EU and similar organizations/treaties/etc. But should the UK also move towards greater integration with former colonies?

Now I am not British (American), so perhaps my view on this is a little skewed. But it seems that Britain would benefit from greater integration with former colonies. We wanted to be free, yes, but that doesn't mean we can't work together now.

Imagine a sort of trans-Atlantic/Pacific union between the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. A sort of Anglophone Union. You could perhaps throw in Ireland and a few more as well if you wanted. Travel restrictions could be reduced, easier transfer of currency from one country's into another's, reduced tariffs, greater cooperation internationally, greater defense integration, etc. Do you think this would be a good idea? Perhaps it is not even needed, since we already have so many international treaties and already work together quite well. Or does Britain have more interests in Europe itself?


edit: on the question that reads "An Anglophone union is a good idea, but isn't really needed since they work together," it means "since they work together now without an Anglophone union." My text got cut off.

[Jaketh]

a unification with Britain would be cool

[TheXand]

Europe of course, the English language will always give Britain very strong ties with the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, we are of course the mother country of these nations and so have a special bond with them regardless of how wayward they might be. We will always have the Commonwealth to fall back on as well, we would be much better suited to forging new alliances and friendships with the rest of Europe than strengthening existing ties with the US and the Commonwealth. A Pan-Anglo alliance would be great and all, but to all extents and purposes it already exists, the only English speaking nation not likely to help the others is the US, although nowadays I believe they might be much more willing to help any nation that shares the English language.

[Darsh]

Britain should become the 51th US state?

[CtrlAltDe1337]

Britain should become the 51th US state?

No; it would be a joint union between all the countries. Not becoming 1 state, but working together very closely. Similar to how the EU was (and still is now, to a great extent), only for Commonwealth countries.

[Heathen Hammer]

Britain should become the 51th US state?

Us should become a subject of the Crown again. Maybe it will become a decent place after all.

[RomanSoldier9001]

Us should become a subject of the Crown again. Maybe it will become a decent place after all.

Sorry Volh but the ones that were subjects of Crown werent decent either.

I like Volhs idea and the new nation will be called the Holy Brittanian empire!
sorry couldn't help myself.

Neither Holy Neither Briton Neither Empire.
Sorry couldn´t help myself. xD

[Lumina]

This topic just screams this song.... a new world order when all English Speaking Nations Unit! Not even China would last..... I jest but... lol

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Rt. Hon. Gentleman]

This topic just screams this song.... a new world order when all English Speaking Nations Unit! Not even China would last..... I jest but... lol

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

All English-Speaking nations have already united. We call it the United Kingdom...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Only a bastardised tongue exists elsewhere!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

^^JOKE^^

[Dodge]

The Coloni... er, I mean Commonwealth.

[6th Vigil]

Ideally I would like greater cooperation in the Commonwealth although not with all the countries because some just aren't ready for a free trade area yet. The USA doesn't really need to join any kind of Anglo-sphere alliance but would obviously be a close ally.

Realistically we're already mired with integration with the EU and I don't see us getting out of that anytime soon as no politician has the balls and most people lack drive to do anything about it.

[Digbert]

a unification with Britain would be cool

We tried that but you lot had a temper tantrum sometime around 1775

The UK should persue greater intergration only with Ireland

So we should invade them again you are saying. The Irish may not like that but hey it could be sweet and very liberal

[Jaketh]

We tried that but you lot had a temper tantrum sometime around 1775

that was under Britain, i mean a unification with co leadership

[Their Law]

It should shift towards integration with Europe. It's all fine and dandy to look back romantically on the Commonwealth but the simple truth is that those countries today no longer share the UK's national interests. We have far more in common with France and German economic and defensive interests than say Australia and Canada. And any relationship with the USA is going to be a very one sided one and therefore not worth it. I'd rather be amongst equals in Europe than be a second class state in a British-American relationship.

Edit: Also I class Ireland as within the term Europe integration. As i feel Ireland in particular have allot in common with the UK and the horrendous events of the past are just that! In the past, thus there is no real reason why our relationship with them should be anything than amicable.

[Ardruire Iacób]

Maybe you could scrap Ireland because of the tensions between the two countries

Eh? There are no serious tensions... However trying to forcibly unite any two countries is hardly condusive of good relations.

[Kiljan Arslan]

personally I support a confederation of anglophone countries each being able to keep their traditions and culture.

[Captain Jin]

I think what the UK wants is strong economic ties via the EU as a trading bloc but not to have their taxpayers money paying for roads or any other programs in another country within the EU. So, what do you suggest as far as further integration with the Anglo-sphere? Britain is already arguably the US's closest ally and one of our biggest trading partners. I don't see why they would want or need to integrate further with us, as they have enough differences in their form of government and I personally don't see it as necessary.

Anyways, ease of access between Anglo countries, and indeed any country on friendly terms with the US it's pretty easy to gain access. I know when I visited England I got six months to wander about by flashing that US passport at the airport, and many countries enjoy visa waiver programs with the United States and I'm fairly sure that Britain is amongst them. Additionally, you speak of greater defense cooperation, but what more do you want than what has been achieved? As members of NATO the US, Canada, and the UK already share a great deal of similiarities required by NATO regulations. This extends to ammunition used, doctrine, organization, even the magazines used... and if you go to any large US base and you'll see plenty of Brits swaggering about, there on some sort of joint-training exercise, or there as advisors/instructors. Hell, an old platoon sergeant of mine is currently a sniper instructor at some base in the UK, trading tips and techniques with the Limeys.

Guess I'm just confused about what you mean by further integration... cause as I see it's not needed alongside the Anglo countries. I would say continue to maintain strong ties of friendship, which I think will continue to happen, but integrate in what manner aside from that? As for the EU... well, I can't speak for the Brits but the more I talk to (even off this board), the more I get the feeling they don't want further integration.

[Rt. Hon. Gentleman]

I think what the UK wants is strong economic ties via the EU as a trading bloc but not to have their taxpayers money paying for roads or any other programs in another country within the EU. So, what do you suggest as far as further integration with the Anglo-sphere? Britain is already arguably the US's closest ally and one of our biggest trading partners. I don't see why they would want or need to integrate further with us, as they have enough differences in their form of government and I personally don't see it as necessary.

Anyways, ease of access between Anglo countries, and indeed any country on friendly terms with the US it's pretty easy to gain access. I know when I visited England I got six months to wander about by flashing that US passport at the airport, and many countries enjoy visa waiver programs with the United States and I'm fairly sure that Britain is amongst them. Additionally, you speak of greater defense cooperation, but what more do you want than what has been achieved? As members of NATO the US, Canada, and the UK already share a great deal of similiarities required by NATO regulations. This extends to ammunition used, doctrine, organization, even the magazines used... and if you go to any large US base and you'll see plenty of Brits swaggering about, there on some sort of joint-training exercise, or there as advisors/instructors. Hell, an old platoon sergeant of mine is currently a sniper instructor at some base in the UK, trading tips and techniques with the Limeys.

Guess I'm just confused about what you mean by further integration... cause as I see it's not needed alongside the Anglo countries. I would say continue to maintain strong ties of friendship, which I think will continue to happen, but integrate in what manner aside from that? As for the EU... well, I can't speak for the Brits but the more I talk to (even off this board), the more I get the feeling they don't want further integration.

Spot on in every possible way.

Trade bloc...yes, more money
Defense pact...yes, more security
Federalised, ahem, "Empair"...no, we don't want or need it.

[RomanSoldier9001]

Well I was thinking about this the other day. Do you think the UK should focus more energy on building up relations and better integration with former parts of the British Empire like USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland? Maybe you could scrap Ireland because of the tensions between the two countries, but you get the idea. Or should they focus on integration into the Continent with the EU and other measures? Both are obviously important, since the UK is part of Europe, and has very close cultural ties with former colonies, which are sort of a lot of "Britains" outside of Europe. We speak the same language, have very similar culture, and share many of the same foreign policy objectives. We have many of the same enemies as well. The same could be said about Ireland to a certain extent, but not as much.

Being European, Britain has a lot of interest of the EU and similar organizations/treaties/etc. But should the UK also move towards greater integration with former colonies?

Now I am not British (American), so perhaps my view on this is a little skewed. But it seems that Britain would benefit from greater integration with former colonies. We wanted to be free, yes, but that doesn't mean we can't work together now.

Imagine a sort of trans-Atlantic/Pacific union between the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. A sort of Anglophone Union. You could perhaps throw in Ireland and a few more as well if you wanted. Travel restrictions could be reduced, easier transfer of currency from one country's into another's, reduced tariffs, greater cooperation internationally, greater defense integration, etc. Do you think this would be a good idea? Perhaps it is not even needed, since we already have so many international treaties and already work together quite well. Or does Britain have more interests in Europe itself?


edit: on the question that reads "An Anglophone union is a good idea, but isn't really needed since they work together," it means "since they work together now without an Anglophone union." My text got cut off.

Have you ever hear about the Commonwealth and the Special Relationship? Because all that you said is pretty much true today. Why the poll when this already is in motion.

[Kiljan Arslan]

I like Volhs idea and the new nation will be called the Holy Brittanian empire!
sorry couldn't help myself.