SNP chief Swinney vows to ban US and Israeli troops from Scotland | Politics | News | EUROtoday

An impartial Scotland would ban US and Israeli troops from the nation, SNP chief John Swinney has vowed. In a swipe on the US and Israeli governments over their assaults on Iran, the First Minister stated he would enshrine within the Scottish structure a ban on overseas militaries concerned in unlawful conflicts overseas.

The US army often makes use of Prestwick Airport – which is owned by the Scottish Government and operated by an arm’s-length firm – which has drawn criticism for Mr Swinney and his ministers. The conflict started on February 28 with a joint US-Israeli marketing campaign in opposition to the Iranian regime.

Human rights teams have condemned the strike on a main college within the southern metropolis of Minab, the place the demise toll has risen to at the least 175 individuals, the vast majority of whom have been younger schoolgirls.

Speaking at his occasion’s convention in Edinburgh on Saturday, Mr Swinney stated: “We will always speak up for the protection of innocent civilians and international law.

“But as an independent country we could do more.

“We will demonstrate not just with words but with actions how Scotland can be a voice for peace.

“We will use the powers of independence to enshrine into our constitution a legally binding ban on nuclear weapons on our soil and in our seas.

“And we will go further – with independence, we will ban any foreign military power engaged in illegal conflicts from our shores.

“Two statements will be written directly into the very foundational document of our new nation – not in our name, not in our country.”

Mr Swinney instructed delegates the motion in Iran has “no basis in international law”, saying: “Right now, once again, the world is watching as war rages in the Middle East.

“We all know the Iranian regime is brutal and illegitimate.

“It has brought untold suffering on its own citizens, and on people across the region.

“But that does not justify what we are seeing on our television screens every night.

“Tehran in flames, whole streets on fire, schools bombed, thousands killed.

“The Iranian regime have terrorised their own population. Now, those self-same civilians are dying at the hands of American and Israeli bombs.

“So let me be clear – the unjustifiable actions of the United States and Israel have no basis under international law.

“They must stop.

“For the sake of the innocent children of Iran, for the sake of peace, our call is for diplomacy, for de-escalation, and an end to this war.”