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A Joint Session of Congress inside the chamber
of the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Reuters / Larry
Downing)
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Members from both sides
of the US political spectrum say a Yes vote in Scotland’s independence
referendum may compromise the UK-US strategic relationship. A weakening of
Washington’s top military ally and the fate of the UK’s nuclear arsenal are
key, RT reports.
Representative Bradley
Sherman [D-CA], who has vocally opposed the prospect of Scotland breaking away
from the UK, said America’s foreign policy establishment is united in its hope
Scotland will remain a part of Britain.
"You will not find
anyone involved in American foreign policy – from the president on down – who
does not think that this division will weaken the alliance that we have," Sherman told the
Telegraph on Thursday.
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(Image
from bradsherman.house.gov)
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The US State Department
has voiced its support of a Scotland that remains part of Britain, and many
Democrats and Republicans have expressed hope a ‘no’ vote wins the day on
September 18.
On the question of
Scottish self-determination, President Barack Obama said at a G7 summit in June
the US has “a deep interest in
making sure that one of the closest allies that we will ever have, the United
Kingdom, remains strong, robust, united, and an effective partner.”
His stance on the issue remains unchanged, according to the deputy spokesperson
for the US State Department Marie Harf.
On Tuesday, Harf
referenced Scotland’s referendum as “an
internal UK matter,” and was unwilling to offer any words of
support for or against Scottish independence. But in a public press briefing on
Wednesday, the deputy spokesperson for the US department took a firmer stance,
and endorsed Obama’s position on Scotland. Harf added, however, that the issue
of self-determination was a question for the Scots, and “ultimately these decisions need to be
made by the people of Scotland.”
In August, a
Congressional Resolution authored by Bradley Sherman entitled ‘United, Secure,
and Prosperous’, was introduced with wide-scale Republican and Democratic
support. Echoing President Obama’s stance on Scottish independence, it stated
that the House of Representatives, “respects
the right of the Scottish people to make their decision regarding their status
in the September 18th referendum” and “expresses support for united, secure, and prosperous United
Kingdom.”
Reflecting on the
resolution, Sherman said “it’s
clear from this side of the Atlantic that a United Kingdom, including Scotland,
would be the strongest possible American ally.”
Congressman Sherman, who
acts as a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Chief
Democrat on its Subcommittee on Trade added, “America’s multi-faceted alliance
with the United Kingdom spans two centuries. Together we have worked to prevent
conflict and respond to disasters around the world. America needs a strong ally
which maintains its military, intelligence, and cyber defense capacities.”
On Wednesday Sherman
reiterated this position, insisting "a
united United Kingdom is a stronger and more ready ally of the US."
He also expressed concern a division of Britain’s armed forces would “clearly diminish” their
strength and capacity to a fight in in tandem with the US globally.
The chair of the Senate's
Europe subcommittee, Chris Murphy [D-CT], believes the US-UK alliance would be
stronger if Scotland remains a part of Britain.
"Our relationship
with Great Britain is stronger if Great Britain is stronger," he told the Telegraph. "I don't think separation helps the
relationship, but it's ultimately up to Scottish voters to decide."
Ron Johnson [R-WI], also
opposes Scottish independence, emphasizing from his “own standpoint” he hopes
Britain remains united. But many members of Congress have reportedly remained
neutral on the issue, insisting they wish to stay focused on US domestic
concerns and the question of how jihadist militants should be confronted in
Iraq and Syria.
"Great Britain is
going to have to handle its own politics," the Democrat leader in the
Senate, Harry Reid, told the daily. "I have enough to deal with over
here."
Some sympathize with the
pro-independence nationalist argument, noting that the US also sought independence
from Britain. Alan Lowenthal, a Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, recently emphasized "if people in Scotland do not feel that
their future is with the UK, I think it's their right to make a decision."
Scottish First Minister
Alex Salmond, who has campaigned tirelessly for a ‘yes’ vote in next week’s
referendum, said on Thursday Scotland’s independence debate has been
"process of national empowerment." Speaking at a press conference for
global media, he emphasized the people of Scotland were "rediscovering
self-confidence" and finding their voice as the countdown to the
referendum continues.
Strategic silence?
It has been reported that
until recently, Scotland’s independence debate had not roused much concern in
Washington. But in the wake of a recent poll that showed the ‘yes’ campaign was
leading 51 percent to 49 percent, the fate of Scotland has begun to attract
more attention on the other side of the Atlantic. With a mere seven days left
until Scots cast their votes, the prospect of an independent Scotland is making
waves on Capitol Hill.
Frances Burwell, director
of transatlantic relations at the Atlantic Council think tank, claims the
recent narrowing of referendum polls in Scotland has shocked many based in
Washington who find it “incomprehensible” that Scotland may break away from the
United Kingdom.
Whether or not the Obama
administration has a contingency plan in place should Scotland go it alone is
unclear. But Ian Wallace, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution,
claims the unwillingness of American institutions to comment on the debate is a
strategic maneuver. “[There is]
an awareness that anything that might be seen as US interference into a
Scottish decision would probably be counter-productive. There’s a desire to
keep from doing anything that would undermine the case for keeping Britain
together,” he said.
If Scotland secures its
independence on September 18, the move will have profound policy implications
for the US. The fate of 58 Trident II D5 missiles Britain leases from the US,
which have functioned as the UK’s most prolific deterrent against a potential
nuclear attack since the close of the Cold War are key. The fate of four
Vanguard-class submarines, which are used to carry these missiles, is also at
stake. Other US concerns would focus on a potential shift in the balance of
power of NATO, Britain’s relationship with the European Union, and the impact a
weakened Britain would have on America’s security and economic interests.
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