TNAG-1461-FCO40-1987-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-Hong-Kong--Gibraltar-and-1986 — Page 75

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35. If any of these five wished to become independent, the UK would, in practice, have to acquiesce although its responsibilities would probably remain considerable through independence settlements. UK's interests lie not only in promoting Caribbean stability, but in retaining the Western orientation of the Caribbean countries.

The

1985 DOPC paper on the Security of Small States noted that "the Caribbean is vulnerable and would benefit from more help. There are a number of reasons why the UK should be prepared to play a full

part in providing this. These include the fact that most of the

small Caribbean states are run on British lines and look to us to

train their armed and police forces and administration; the great benefits which even small amounts of extra help would bring for UK/American relations; our interests in combatting the drugs trade, and the need to insure against the possibility that the West Indians might in the long term turn against the United States" (para 21 (a)). Moreover, the DOPC paper also noted that the "stability of the Caribbean is vital to the security of our principal ally the United States, and we therefore continue to have an interest in the long term stability of the area" (para 8(b)). These conclusions

remain valid.

US Reactions

36. United States concern with the Caribbean and the defence facilities currently made available to the United States in UK dependent territories is an important factor in considering options for UK dependent territories. These (apart from BIOT) are in Bermuda a centre for anti submarine warfare; in the Turks and Caicos - a processing station for US navy sound surveillance system;

and in Ascension Island, a US global intelligence station, installations for US navigation satellite system and missile testing

facilities. In BIOT the US have invested some $7 billion to date and regard Diego Garcia as the lynch-pin of their presence in the Indian Ocean. Because of these various defence interests, the options most likely to appeal to the US are maintenance of the

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