A prominent British politician has put forward a striking proposal that challenges long-standing assumptions about the country’s most dependable allies. According to Lord Daniel Hannan, the United Kingdom should look beyond its traditional reliance on the United States and instead forge a closer alliance with three trusted Commonwealth nations: Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Hannan’s argument stems from historical ties and shared values among the four English-speaking countries.

In Hannan’s view, this level of trust is rare and “instinctive,” and should be nurtured through a new framework known as CANZUK.

New political landscape?

The CANZUK initiative, which first emerged in British Columbia in 2015, advocates for deeper diplomatic and defense cooperation, an automatic right to work across member nations, and a common market based on mutual recognition of standards.

Until recently, the idea had been viewed as a long-term aspiration rather than an urgent necessity, but global shifts — particularly developments in U.S. foreign policy — have prompted renewed interest, Hannan notes.

Hannan argues that the political landscape has changed dramatically with the return of Donald Trump to the White House. He points to Trump’s abrupt policy reversals, including halting weapons shipments to Ukraine, spreading Russian propaganda, and making moves that strain NATO alliances.

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Most alarmingly, he notes, Trump has engaged in economic and territorial disputes with Canada, even floating the idea of annexing Greenland.

Given these uncertainties, Hannan contends that Britain must reconsider its defense strategies. Since the Cold War, the U.K. has relied on American military support, particularly in nuclear deterrence. However, if confidence in the U.S. falters, Britain may have to pursue an independent nuclear program — a costly endeavor that could become feasible through a CANZUK partnership.

British current nuclear deterrent – Trident II – will last until 2040 and no replacement has been planned yet, unless new U.S. weapons are acquired.

Ignoring European neighbors

However, in making his case for CANZUK, Hannan overlooks potential alliances with continental European nations, which possess significant military strength and defense capabilities.