Amid the rise of China, the war in Ukraine, an unequal global vaccine roll-out and a brewing climate crisis have raised tensions within the group of nations, many of which were part of the former British Empire
As King Charles prepares to take the crown, Britain's relationship with its former empire is under growing strain.
"We are at a crossroads", says Kathryn Nwajiaku-Dahou of the Overseas Development Institute thinktank. Meanwhile, many Commonwealth members have also called for much stronger action on climate change, with island nations such as Tonga and Tuvalu at risk of submersion by rising sea levels. No members have supported the invasion outright, but nine have remained studiously neutral - never once voting against Russia.
The new monarch will have to tread carefully in this area, too. At the UN, most Commonwealth countries have tended to side with China on contentious human rights issues. Thirty years ago, the UK's economy was more than twice as large as China's. As of 2022, China's GDP is almost six times that of the UK.Consider those four countries that recently voted against holding a debate on China's alleged mistreatment of Uyghur Muslims: Pakistan, Namibia, Cameroon and Gabon.
Since 1953 the share of South Asian Commonwealth exports that are sent to Europe or the US has risen from a quarter to one third .China’s position has increased most significantly, overtaking Britain as a trading partner across the former empire.Why has the UK lost its share of trade with the Commonwealth so much faster than Europe or America? Put simply, it's because Britain had more to lose.
"As one of the largest groups of freedom-loving democracies, we must ensure there are clear benefits to remaining a member of the Commonwealth and offer nations a clear alternative to growing malign influence from Beijing," she said.What the Queen did for the Commonwealth and how the UK's relationship with it changed during her reign
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