Power paramount

Peter Jones (Perspective, 4 March) raises a fundamental question regarding a possibly 
independent Scotland’s role in international relations.

What difference would it make if an independent Scotland were signed up to the “Budapest memorandum”?

It would still be a small country with limited economic and military power and, importantly, no nuclear deterrent.

Noticeably, Scotland’s oil and gas supplies pale into insignificance compared with Russia and the US. What contribution to international relations could Scotland make when clearly the present crisis shows “power is paramount”?

Arguably, if the UK left the EU its influence on the world’s stage would considerably diminish.

Ellis Thorpe

Old Chapel Walk

Inverurie