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status quo, Associated Statehood or Integration with the UK (ie
options where the UK retains responsibility for defence) or, if the US were willing, Condominium status or integration with the US.
Leaseback (in the case of BIOT from Mauritius) is not likely to find
much favour with the US, and the US would of course be concerned for
defence implications for NATO if Bermuda were to become independent, and would want to be involved in any arrangement negotiated with Bermuda regarding access to the military facilities there by NATO.
The need to make some provision to secure NATO's continued use of
these facilities in the event of Bermuda's independence has been the
subject of interdepartmental study. Given its overriding interest in the Caribbean as well, the US would need to be involved in any
defence arrangement for this region. Moreover, any such arrangement would need to accomplish the following:-
a) secure the defence of each territory;
b) reduce the UK' S commitment to that defence; and
c) involve the US in a way that was both acceptable to the
territory itself and avoided raising tensions more generally in the region. Discussions with other states with interests
in the region eg France and the Netherlands could also result
in closer security coordination.
Third World Reactions
37. The pressures on the United Kingdom from the Third World and the
Commonwealth on decolonization, apart from the Falkland Islands, are
now much less than they were. However the Third World remains
concerned about super-power military facilities and bases and will
continue to focus on them in the future. UN interest in the
question of military bases especially in dependent territories is also strong. HMG will need to consider whether the United Kingdom's interests are best served by increasing defence links with the United States, by maintaining the status quo, or by attempting to decrease such links.
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