A bitter war of words has erupted after a former general-secretary of Nato claimed that Scotland’s departure from the UK could have a “cataclysmic” impact on the western world.
Lord Robertson, a former UK Government defence minister, claimed the “loudest cheers” for the break-up of Britain would be “from our adversaries and from our enemies”.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was “shocked” by the former Labour MP’s “insulting and offensive” comments.
She said an independent Scotland would be a “voice of peace and co-operation” with its international partners.
Addressing the Brookings Institution in Washington, Lord Robertson said: “For the second military power in the west to shatter would be cataclysmic in geopolitical terms. If the United Kingdom was to face a split at this of all times and find itself embroiled for several years in a torrid, complex, difficult and debilitating divorce, it would rob the west of a serious partner just when solidity and cool nerves are going to be vital.
“Nobody should underestimate the effect all of that would have on existing global balances, and the forces of darkness would simply love it.”
Lord Robertson, who once claimed devolution would kill nationalism stone dead claimed plans to remove Trident nuclear submarines from the country in the event of a Yes vote “would effectively be disarming the remainder of the UK”.
Ms Sturgeon urged pro-UK campaigners to “step back into the realms of rational debate”.
“If Scotland does become independent, if we democratically choose independence, then an independent Scotland will be a voice of peace and co-operation with our partners across the world,” she said.
“We don’t have to look very far to see the positive contribution that small states make across the world today.”
First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Nobody seriously believes that a nation of 5million people should be a nuclear-armed power. But we will co-operate fully and constructively with our neighbours and partners, like the 25 Nato members, out of 28, which are not nuclear powers.”