Commonwealth of Nations & Ireland
The UK has varied relationships with the countries that make up the Commonwealth of Nations which originated from the British Empire. Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is the head of the Commonwealth and is head of state of 16 of its 54 member states. Those that retain the Queen as head of state are called Commonwealth Realms. Over time several countries have been suspended from the Commonwealth for various reasons. Zimbabwe was suspended because of the authoritarian rule of its President and so too was Pakistan, but it has since returned. Countries which become republics are still eligible for membership of the Commonwealth so long as they are deemed democratic. Commonwealth nations such as Malaysia enjoyed no export duties in trade with the UK before the UK concentrated their economic relationship with EU member states.
The UK was once a dominant colonial power in many countries on the continent of Africa and its multinationals remain large investors in sub-Saharan Africa. Nowadays the UK, as a leading member of the Commonwealth of Nations, seeks to influence Africa through its foreign policies. Current UK disputes are with Zimbabwe over human rights violations. Tony Blair set up the Africa Commission and urged rich countries to cease demanding developing countries repay their large debts.
Read more about this topic: Foreign Relations Of The United Kingdom
Famous quotes containing the words commonwealth of, commonwealth, nations and/or ireland:
“The commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“This little world, this little state, this little commonwealth of our own....”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
“They make other nations seem pale and flighty,
But they do think England is God almighty,
And you must remind them now and then
That other countries breed other men.”
—Alice Duer Miller (1874–1942)
“Sport and death are the two great socializing factors in Ireland ...”
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973)