Sturgeon’s Nato naivety

sir – Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Nicola Sturgeon now believes that it is essential that an independent Scotland should join Nato (report, May 17). This is despite her continued support for unilateral nuclear disarmament and insistence that Trident submarines should be removed from Scotland.

In policy terms, she seems to be demonstrating a remarkable level of incoherence and political naivety by not understanding that nuclear weapons are a core element of Nato deterrence policy, to which the UK makes a significant contribution. Opposition to nuclear deterrence and membership of Nato are incompatible. Rear Admiral Philip Mathias (retd) Director of Nuclear Policy, 2005-2008 Southsea, Hampshire