Liz Truss has pledged to ensure the Commonwealth “sits at the heart of her plans for Global Britain” in a bid to counter China's "growing malign influence". Truss would launch a “New Commonwealth Deal”, aimed at strengthening economic ties across the Commonwealth should she succeed Boris Johnson as Prime Minister in September.
It comes as Sir Stephen Lovegrove, the UK’s National Security Adviser, warned of the “pace and scale with which China is expanding its nuclear and conventional arsenals”. Adding the world is entering a “dangerous new age of proliferation”.
Truss’ plan would expedite bilateral trade agreements with Commonwealth partners, which her campaign team argues would supercharge the Commonwealth trade cost advantage, which is already 21 per cent lower on average for trade between Commonwealth countries versus non-members. Truss said: “I will ensure the Commonwealth sits at the heart of my plans for Global Britain.
