'Ban Trump from using Scottish airports for Greenland attack', Swinney urged

The First Minister has been urged to ban the US military from using Scottish Government-owned airports if it decides to launch an attack on Greenland.

It comes after US President Donald Trump continued to step up his calls for Greenland, a semi-autonomous part of Denmark, to become part of the US.

Trump said he could not rule out the use of military force to take over Greenland.

During First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Gillian Mackay, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens, warned John Swinney that Scotland must not be “complicit” in any American attack on the country’s allies.

“Scotland must stand up to Trump and his contempt for international law and assure the people of Greenland that we will not be complicit in any part of an attempted annexation,” Mackay said.

“Can the First Minister commit that the US military will be banned from using Scottish infrastructure and assets, including all of our publicly-owned airports, if they launch operations against our Nordic allies?”

In response, Swinney said he had made clear over his political career that he believes in the international rules-based system “for ensuring peace and stability in the world”.

“Gillian Mackay raises issues with me about the use of infrastructure within Scotland that is under the control of the Scottish Government and I want to make it clear that I believe it is important that all of that infrastructure, if it were ever to be used, can only be used consistent with the international rules-based system for the arrangements between countries, and I will ensure that is the case as First Minister,” Swinney said.

He added that he stands with the international community to protect the right of the people of Greenland to determine their future.

Mackay’s questions come after the US military used a Scottish Government-owned airport during its operation to seize a Venezuelan-linked oil tanker in the North Atlantic.

Assisted by UK forces, US special operations aircraft landed at Wick John O’Groats Airport in the Highlands before flying further north.

It followed the US attack on Venezuela, which saw the military capture Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and fly him to America, with Trump saying he would now run the country until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” can be ensured.

A Venezuelan-linked oil tanker seized by the US entered waters north of Scotland to restock essential supplies.

The Marinera, a vessel previously known as Bella-1, was captured by US forces last week as it travelled north and eastwards through the waters between Iceland and Scotland.

It was berthed in the Moray Firth near Burghead at the request of the US Coast Guard to allow essential supplies, including food and water, to be delivered on board.

Swinney was not told of the operation, requested by the US Coast Guard and agreed by the UK Government, and only found out about it through media reports.