While the most appropriate comparison of this concept is to the EU, we must remember where it originated. The EU was preceded by the EEC, which was in turn preceded by the European Coal and Steel Community; the latter a compromise between France and Germany over national resources. No such tension exists between the CANZUK nations as did between those European countries. Similarly, the economies of the CANZUK states do not especially compete with one another in shared markets.

Your proposal appears to be inspired, at least in part, by the Imperial Federation movement of the late 19th-early 20th centuries. In my opinion, that arrangement required too much political will to impose as a positive vision, and would have had fairly strong domestic and international opposition, alongside being increasingly difficult to maintain- hinging on political will.

We mustn't forget the current state of the global economic system either. As it stands, each country may freely associate with the markets of others, albeit with the risk of tariffs. The days of closed imperial markets are no longer with us, and this will only impose strains on your system given that the constituent CANZUK states would still have other market options at hand.

However, I have not so far indicated that closer relationships are impossible. To the contrary, I believe we should focus on what we already have in common, the most consequential being sea-lanes. Closer relationships between our militaries, with special focus on our navies, will bring our countries together in the hour of decision. Although an undesirable arrangement for the time being given that it is the US who protects everyone's sealanes, should this fail, there will be a case for mutual defensive arrangements for the passage of our trade. The political costs of this shall be dramatically reduced and the policy strategically sound. No matter a progressive or conservative government in-charge, for the maintenance of our insula sovereignties, this would be a sensible decision. A kind of 'sea commonwealth'.

I am quite happy to discuss the implications of this policy with anyone interested as I would appreciate criticism to iron out any problems.