Defence experts claim that Scotland would become a high-priority target for Russia if a Third World War was to break out. A new paper from the Royal United Services Institute also claims that Scotland's independence could make it a "gift" for Vladimir Putin, who it states is revisiting Russia's Cold War "Bastion" defence policy, as reported in The Times – a strategy that targeted land and critical defence sites in Scotland to establish military control over the North Atlantic.
The paper goes on to suggest that Scotland’s growing importance for Nato defence comes “at precisely the moment when the prospect of Scotland voting to leave the UK has never looked greater” and refers to the United Kingdom's break-up as “a wildcard for High North security”. It is understood that some within Nato are opposed to Scotland gaining membership if the country lobbies for the expensive and disruptive removal of nuclear submarines.
