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The Scottish Government's position that Trident nuclear weapons should be removed from Scotland but that it should hold NATO membership has been branded as a contradiction by figures including Willie Rennie, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/aug/15/alex-salmond-nuclear-nato-ban|title=Alex Salmond told nuclear ban out of line with being in Nato|date=15 August 2013|accessdate=17 December 2013}}</ref> and Patrick Harvie, co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party.<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/15/alex-salmond-trident-nuclear-base|title=Alex Salmond accused of misleading voters over Trident base promises|date=15 August 2013|accessdate=17 December 2013}}</ref> However, Salmond has said it would be "perfectly feasible" to join NATO while maintaining an anti-nuclear stance, and that Scotland would only pursue NATO membership "subject to an agreement that Scotland will not host nuclear weapons and NATO continues to respect the right of members to only take part in UN sanctioned operations".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19993694|title=SNP members vote to ditch the party's anti-Nato policy|date=19 October 2012|accessdate=17 December 2013}}</ref>
The former [[NATO Secretary General]], [[George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen|Lord Robertson]], said Scotland becoming independent could be “cataclysmic” for the West. "The people who would cheer loudest at the break-up of the United Kingdom and therefore, the disintegration of one of the key pillars, the anchors in the Western alliance, would be those who are today’s adversaries and tomorrow’s enemies."<ref>[http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/41419/scottish_independence_cataclysmic_ex_nato_head.html politicshome.com: "Scottish independence 'cataclysmic' - ex-Nato head" 10 Apr 2014]</ref> Robertson said NATO has a "central nuclear role" and that the SNP should either accept it or keep Scotland out of the alliance.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cramb|first=Auslan|title=An independent Scotland would have to 'support nuclear weapons' to gain access to Nato|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/scottish-politics/9985086/An-independent-Scotland-would-have-to-support-nuclear-weapons-to-gain-access-to-Nato.html|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=10 Apr 2013}}</ref>
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