Discussion Forum

In May 2013 the RSE hosted a public discussion seminar, in Edinburgh, on how Scotland and the UK’s defence and international relations might be affected in the event of constitutional change.

The seminar examined questions around how the UK’s role within NATO and on the UN Security Council might be affected by constitutional change, and whether Scotland could expect to retain a role within these organisations in the event of a ‘Yes’ vote in the forthcoming referendum, and what its defence options might be. The seminar also examined how the UK’s position on the international stage might be affected by constitutional change, and what the implications of attempting to separate the Scottish military from the UK military might be. Questions about the future of the UK’s nuclear deterrence, given the SNP’s anti-nuclear policies, were also addressed.

Event report