Trump's troops are not welcome in Scotland
The Scottish Greens external affairs spokesperson Patrick Harvie has responded to First Minister John Swinney's comment that he would consider banning the US military from using Prestwick depending on what the UK government says about the flights.
Scottish Green Co-leader Ross Greer previously made the call at First Minister’s Questions, referencing flight data that shows 24 US military flights landed at Prestwick Airport in the week leading up to Trump’s bombing of Iran, including at least one that came from Israel.
Patrick said:
“This is a welcome recognition from the First Minister, first that the issue is serious and second that he does have the power to act.
“But there is frankly no need to wait till he has details on the precise missions of specific flights - information he may never get. If he accepts that the war is illegal, which he seems to, then he should be doing the responsible thing and blocking US forces now rather than waiting for Westminster.
“There is no excuse for letting Donald Trump’s military use Prestwick as a base for his aggression.
“When US forces are using government-owned airports at the rate they are, then it is clearly providing assistance to operations that the First Minister knows to be illegal and profoundly dangerous.
“The Spanish government has already blocked the US military, and we should be doing the same.
“This isn't a one-off. Trump has shown a total contempt for human rights and international law. His support for Israel’s genocide against Palestinians, his immoral and illegal coup in Venezuela and his attacks on Iran show that he cannot be treated as an ally.
“If the First Minister is prepared to go one step further by showing the courage of his convictions and standing up to the White House then we will back him.
“What he must not do is treat Donald Trump as if he was just another politician, instead of the dangerous extremist he is.
“This US administration stands for fascism at home and imperialism abroad. Their forces should not be welcome in Scotland.”