Scotland: A Good Global Citizen - a Scottish perspective on climate, defence, security and external affairs

Conclusion

Scotland has a long history of international engagement. As an independent state, Scotland would take responsibility for the safety and security of its citizens, play a full part in the institutions and mechanisms responsible for cooperation and dialogue between nations and contribute towards collective defence in the North Atlantic. Even within the restrictions of the current constitutional arrangement, Scotland has been able to build on its history as a scientific nation, leading the way in the UK for the quality and breadth of our research and innovation.

The development of the Integrated Review was an opportunity for the UK Government to work with the Scottish Government, the other UK administrations and a wider, diverse group of stakeholders to create a new, more relevant approach to the UK's role in the world. Instead, beyond a recognition of the role that science and technology can play in effective policy development in these areas, the UK Government has chosen to carry out a traditional, limited review, with little in the way of obvious new thinking.

As this paper has set out, Scotland has a distinctive perspective on the range of issues addressed by the Integrated Review. There are obvious synergies, areas where Scottish Ministers can work closely with counterparts in Northern Ireland, Wales and England to ensure the safety of people living in Scotland and the rest of the UK. But there are also areas where we know that the people of Scotland would rightly expect the Scottish Government to take a different approach, for example, the protection of development aid to the world's most vulnerable communities.

The Scottish Government will always be an advocate for the wishes of the people of Scotland. It is only with independence that the people of Scotland will have the opportunity to set the direction that they want their nation to take in the world.