London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Oct 24, 2025

World powers have interests, not friends

World powers have interests, not friends

Before pontificating on independence, look first at the UK national interest. Embarking on an odyssey that leads to independence requires a cold and hard look at the UK national interest.

All world powers act in their national interests. The UK in that instance is no different from any other power.

To understand the workings of world powers and how they respond and react to external pressures, it is vital to understand their national interests.

Now, there are three areas of the national interest worth assessing before embarking on the treacherous road to independence for any Overseas Territory of the UK.

First question: is there any benefit for the UK holding on to Oversea Territories against the wishes of the citizens of those territories? The answer to that question is clearly no. Why? Because in a world that has moved beyond the colonialism and imperialism of the 1940s and 50s, it is simply futile for any world power, even powers such as the USA or EU to hold on to territory if the inhabitants of those territories want the power out.

The last thing the UK needs is street protests, demonstrations, and riots, which will be traumatic for the UKs international standing and reputation. Holding on to territory that hosts a population that wants to be free of the UK is simply not worth the ‘’grief’’ it will cause to both Westminster and Whitehall.

However, it is probable that the inhabitants of all the OTs, including residents of the Virgin Islands, are satisfied with the status quo in spite of the drum beats for independence by a few ‘’elements.’’

The reason for that preceding supposition is that there has been no real protest or uprising in any of the OTs by residents demanding independence. Residents of OTs appear satisfied with their statuses as British Overseas Territory Citizens, from the Falkland Islands to Gibraltar.

The fact that Overseas Caribbean Territories host large black populations is not a factor unless those populations experience racism and oppression which cannot be measured with any certainty. Oversea Territory residents understand there are advantages in being under the UK Umbrella.

Residents are also wise enough to appreciate that there will be economic and strategic consequences leaving the umbrella of the UK, such as increased costs of national defense, loss of oversight of local politicians that is the key check and balance inherent in the Oversea Territory constitution and conventions. Then in the event of a rogue government, residents understand oversight means the government will be swiftly brought into check. There is the subject of global investors who are happy to place their cash in territories that are governed by UK laws, financial probity, and financial culture and practice. Direct and Indirect Foreign Investment is crucial to the Oversea Territory economy.

The second matter of the UK national interest: are there benefits to the UK holding on to Over Sea Territories in various parts of the world. The answer to that question is more ambiguous. That answer is less clear.

With Brexit, the UK is looking for global trade alliances to replace the inevitable loss of trade from Europe. The Overseas Territories are a type of UK satellite, a bridgehead, where investors can park cash cheaply, before moving that cash to other places where it can be invested in everything from banking and tourism to manufacturing.

Parking assets and cash on an Oversea Territory is a wise idea as these investors will avoid rules and regulations from being part of the European Union. Furthermore, there are tax and regulatory advantages sitting you cash offshore.

The UK under Boris Johnson remains wedded to supply-side economics and free trade. The Overseas Territory is a great asset that ensures capital can be moved about without the regulatory hindrances of being in the European Union, even in the UK.

Banking, insurance, and trade links between the City of London and the OTs can be leveraged to compensate for losses UK investment banking will experience as the UK departs the EU.

The final matter of the UK national interest is the residents of the Oversea Territory themselves. The UK respects the legitimately constituted governments of the OTs but feels responsible for the people of the OTs directly, whether resident or citizen.

As British Overseas Territory Citizens the UK has a duty, and the UK will want to know that any move to independence is what the people actually want.

Bear in mind that residents of OTs are a diverse population with equally diverse views. It is simply not enough for a number of politicians to sing the Independence Song without a clear signal the vast majority of the people want independence.

Hence the only route to independence is a referendum, which OT politicians dare not call as they probably believe the people will not vote for Independence.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Microsoft AI CEO: ‘We’re making an AI that you can trust your kids to use’ — but can Microsoft rebuild its own trust before fixing the industry’s?
China and Russia Deploy Seductive Espionage Networks to Infiltrate U.S. Tech Sector
Apple’s ‘iPhone Air’ Collapses After One Month — Another Major Misstep for the Tech Giant
Graham Potter Begins New Chapter as Sweden Head Coach on Short-Term Deal
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Alleges Poison Plot via Chocolate and Jam
Lakestar to Halt External Fundraising as Investor in Revolut and Spotify
U.S. Innovation Ranking Under Scrutiny as China Leads Output Outputs but Ranks 10th
Three Men Arrested in London on Suspicion of Spying for Russia
Porsche Reverses EV Strategy as New CEO Bets on Petrol and Hybrids
Singapore’s Prime Minister Warns of ‘Messy’ Transition to Post-American Global Order
Andreessen Horowitz Sets Sights on Ten-Billion-Dollar Fund for Tech Surge
US Administration Under President Donald Trump Reportedly Lifts Ban on Ukraine’s Use of Storm Shadow Missiles Against Russia
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
×