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22. Permanent or Transitional Integration with a Third Power
United Kingdom
Theoretical examples of territories capable of integrating with a Third Power include the British Virgin Islands (with the US), the Turks and Caicos (with the US, Canada or the Bahamas), and Pitcairn
(with New Zealand). This option would have to be defended in terms of the "wishes" of the inhabitants, and political prospects would be
limited by the almost certain reluctance of friendly Powers to take over direct and continuing political and financial responsibility
for the territories. The initial cost to the UK of such an option
is likely to be high in the short term as substantial payments, in the form of compensation for local inhabitants, or inducement to the new 'parent' power might be needed. Any inducement by HMG would need to be presented as in the interests of the inhabitants of the
territory rather than those of the absorbing power. In the case of BIOT, integration with a Third Power is precisely what the
Mauritians seek but UK policy is to resist this until such time as
the islands are not required for defence purposes.
23. Integration with the UK, would be feasible for territories with no permanent population or for small or isolated territories with little prospect of independence such as St Helena and Dependencies and Pitcairn with free rights of access to the UK for these
populations on the French model. However, such an option would set an undesirable precedent for the more populous territories (eg
Caribbean territories) unless it were to be presented as a half-way
house. The ramifications for UK policy towards Gibraltar and the
Falklands of any offer of integration with either the UK or a third
power would need to be taken into account. The attractions of transitional integration for those territories where HMG has special
defence, communications or scientific interests would have to be
weighed against the political risks. Only one of the territories
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