The Scottish Government will outline its “vision of an independent Scotland as an internationalist country promoting peace, prosperity and climate action” later on Monday.
External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson will launch the new policy paper, the latest in the series published by the government – “An independent Scotland’s place in the world” – and he will explain how Scotland can join the international community as a sovereign state. He will also propose that Scotland could become a member of NATO, the UN and the EU, and work on the international stage to champion the voice of the “Global South” countries.
As well as removing nuclear weapons from Scotland the paper will also cover the way in which the armed forces could operate in Scotland.
Mr Robertson said: “Independence would mean that Scotland gets to determine the type of nation it wants to be on the world stage.
“A nation that acts based on its values and principles, promotes human rights and development, and builds partnerships with other countries and international organisations to address global challenges.
“As an independent country we could renew and strengthen our existing relationships on these islands and around the world – promoting peace, prosperity and climate action, as a good global citizen committed to safeguarding human rights and upholding international law and the rules-based order.
“Scotland has a long history of being an outward-looking nation and I look forward to setting out our proposals in detail.”
Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said: “Just days after introducing a multi-million cut for housing, paying for yet another paper on the SNP’s constitutional obsession confirms the nationalists are completely out of touch with the people of Scotland.
“Once again, it’s clear that this latest document is full of contradictions and nonsense claims.
“As part of the UK, right now Scotland has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, is a member of the G7, and has a far greater global influence in tackling the climate emergency and promoting peace.
“For the SNP and Greens to claim a separate Scotland would join the nuclear alliance Nato and then move nuclear weapons a few hundred miles south, as well as join the EU without adopting the euro, shows they don’t understand geopolitics.
“Scotland deserves politicians who focus on the people’s priorities.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
