Scottish independence could create a less stable world, claims leading US paper

THE battle for Scotland’s future has made waves on the other side of the Atlantic, with one of the US’s most influential newspapers concluding that independence could lead to “a less stable world”.

• American newspaper Washington Post has claimed that an independent Scotland would weaken the UK and Europe, especially on matters of lglobal security

• Newspaper adds that the fragmentation of Europe is a “worrying trend”

• Editorial article includes several errors, including SNP’s Nato membership policy

A Washington Post editorial claimed an independent Scotland would be “unable to contribute meaningfully to global security” and would weaken the UK, which it regards as the US’s foremost ally.

The newspaper, however, was not up-to-date on SNP policy, asserting that Alex Salmond’s party wanted to withdraw from Nato.

Earlier this month the SNP narrowly voted to embrace the nuclear alliance on the condition that Scotland was allowed to get rid of the nuclear weapons based on the Clyde.

The editorial also claimed London would have a veto on an independent Scotland keeping the pound – an incorrect assertion, although it has still not been sorted out whether there would be a seat on the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee for a Scottish representative.

The article said the UK would be able to able to veto Scotland’s entry into the EU and could claim one third of the North Sea’s oil fields. The newspaper, which claims 20 million readers in the US, also described independence as a part of a “worrying trend” towards the regional fragmentation of Europe.

“A more local government can be more efficient, more democratic and more attuned to citizens’ interests. But the more fragmented Europe becomes, the less it will be able to use its collective strength on the global stage, both in military and diplomatic terms.”

International relations experts said it was fascinating that the US was waking up to the Scottish constitutional debate. While Mr Salmond’s opponents said that the existence of such an article when the US was engulfed by Hurricane Sandy illustrated America’s anxiety about the future of the UK.

An SNP spokesman said: “The SNP has already been in touch with the paper to point out that it contains factual errors. On defence, for example, the SNP’s conference passed a policy for an independent Scotland to be a non-nuclear member of Nato, similar to Norway and the vast majority of Nato members which do not possess nuclear weapons. The editorial writer was obviously unaware of this.

“We look forward to an independent Scotland being a friend and ally of the United States, as we will be with the rest of the UK.”