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Swedish plan gives SNP hope for axing Trident

Independent Scotland would seek to join Nato while ruling out permanent nuclear weapon bases
BRITAIN-POLITICS-NAVY
Opponents of Scottish independence have cited the SNP’s policy of removing the Trident nuclear deterrent from Faslane as a major hurdle to an independent Scotland joining Nato
JAMES GLOSSOP/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

An independent Scotland would seek to emulate Sweden by joining Nato while rejecting being a host site for permanent nuclear weapons, the SNP has said.

The Scandinavian country is expected to join the western alliance as early as next month in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

But Pal Jonson, the Swedish defence minister, has ruled out permanent bases — including deployment of the alliance’s nuclear arsenal — amid fears that political support for joining could be eroded.

Opponents of Scottish independence have cited the SNP’s policy of removing the Trident nuclear deterrent from Faslane as a major hurdle to an independent Scotland joining Nato. But Sweden’s stance has bolstered the SNP policy.

The nationalists’ approach to defence policy has shifted in recent years towards being “a good North Atlantic neighbour” with a greater focus on the high north, which includes Nordic countries as well as the US, Canada and Russia. This is expected to continue under Dave Doogan, the party’s new defence spokesman at Westminster.

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Doogan told a recent meeting of the Nato parliamentary assembly in Washington that it needed to “recognise that the benefits of Sweden and Finland joining Nato far outweigh any principled domestic stance on hosting or sharing obligations or commitments”.

A similar case was made in relation to an independent Scotland by Nicola Sturgeon in a speech last year in Washington. Yesterday Doogan said: “The idea that states — applicant or members — could be somehow coerced to become host states against their will is anathema to the democratic foundations of Nato.

NATO holds ceremony to mark Sweden's and Finland's application for membership in Brussels
Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary-general, displays documents from Sweden and Finland applying for membership following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year
JOHANNA GERON/AP

“For Scotland’s part, Nato membership is at the core of our independent defence and security posture, adding value, plurality and capability together with our incredibly important geostrategic location. Like Sweden, Scotland will not host nuclear weapons.”

He said the policy of removing Trident made it “inconceivable that we would then turn around as an independent actor and invite nuclear weapons in” but that would not diminish the country’s value to Nato.

Sweden and Finland are expected to join Nato by the end of next month once Turkey ratifies their membership application. Officials said Sweden would follow Nato’s “enhanced forward presence” model in the Baltic states, which involves the deployment of troops on rotation rather than creating permanent bases. However, the caveats on bases could alarm allies, with Finland also expected to set conditions after polling showed public opposition.

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SNP policy is for Trident to be removed from the Clyde within three years of any vote for independence. The nuclear deterrent is of particular strategic importance to the US.

Russia is expanding its presence in the Arctic region.

The Scottish Greens, the SNP’s partners in government, are opposed to Nato membership.

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