Sturgeon says Ukraine war strengthens case for an independent Scotland in Nato
Nicola Sturgeon has told a US audience an independent Scotland would seek to join the European Union and Nato, with membership of the alliances “cornerstones” of the new country’s foreign policy.
Her comments came after Sweden and Finland moved towards joining Nato, marking a major shift in the Scandinavian countries’ foreign policies following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The SNP leader also talked up the possibility of the “huge potential” of hydrogen energy, stating Scotland could see the technology becoming a “significantindustry”andeurope’s “biggest source” of hydrogen.
Addressing the Brookings Institution in Washington DC, the First Minister said the war in Ukraine had “strengthened my conviction” that the policy of joining Nato post-independence was the correct choice.
However, she faces disagreement within her own government,withco-leaderofthescottishgreens,patrickharvie,reiterating his own party’s oppositiontonatomembershipforan independent Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon said the previously “unthinkable” decision of Sweden and Finland to move to join Nato, alongside the war in Ukraine, had strengthened her belief Nato membership would be vital for Scotland’s securityduetothethreatposed by Russia.
The SNP leader said that she was “acutely aware” of Scotland’s “strategic position” in northern Europe, highlighting Russian jets and submarines oftencomingclosetothewaters
oftheuk.shesaid:“iamfirmin my view that – coupled with a strongrelationshipwiththeuk – membership of the EU and of Nato will be cornerstones of an independent Scotland’s security policy.
“And so we are clearer than ever that membership of Nato would not only be vital to Scotland’s security – though it most definitely would be – it would also be the principal way in
which an independent Scotland, in an interdependent world, would contribute to the collective security of our neighbours and allies.”
Ms Sturgeon is in the United States this week to discuss issuesaroundtheclimateemergency and meet business leaders.
Todayshewillgiveaspeechat the Climate Solutions Foundation before meeting with memcaused
bers of Congress, including the caucus for women’s issues, the friends of Scotland caucus, and the European Union caucus.
The First Minister’s speech yesterday covered foreign policyissuessuchasnatomembership,andscotland’sapproachto the climate emergency, including talking up the potential of hydrogenenergyandthatarapid move to a low carbon economy was now “more urgent as
ever”.ms Sturgeon warned that the move away from oil and gas should not replicate the experience of deindustrialisation during the 1980s, something she said had left areas “deeply scarred”.
During a question-andanswer session, the SNP leader was asked whether Scotland could “ramp up” oil and gas production to help with the energy pressures in Europe
by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mssturgeonsaidsuchamove would take time and that the majority of production capacity in Scottish waters was being used, adding that the “shortterm imperative” may lead to the “significantly undermining” of the long- term challenge of climate change.