Sydney is geographically worse but changes imperial command

Singapore remains the stronger geographical choice for Britain's Far East base. Combining that location with an effective joint command would be the preferred arrangement. Sydney becomes a plausible second choice if Australia funds the infrastructure, overcoming the financial advantage of Singapore's offer of free land. The investment could greatly expand Australian naval capacity while forcing Britain and Australia to establish shared command arrangements. Trincomalee offers another possible base, although its more exclusively British command setting would not impose the same requirement for a joint headquarters.