Originally Posted by
SimonK
Thing is that even if they got all the military assets mentioned above, the costs of running them would be significantly higher than they are at present due to economies of scale.
Precisely ! You only have to scratch the surface of what would happen to UK Armed Forces to see that the SNP position is completely untenable. The only way that the current NATO position could be maintained would be for Scotland to become a Crown Dependency and (like the Isle of Man etc,) pay a levy to the UK for its defence. That way the bases and assets would remain in Scotland whilst still being operated under the Union Flag.
The problem is that Crown Dependencies are not independent. They are part of Great Britain but not part of the United Kingdom. Whilst they fly their own flag ultimate control resides with Westminster. Importantly, they are not funded by Westminster.
All this detail of the seemingly minor issue of defence of the realm hasn't even been discussed.
I hope very much that the independence issue withers on the vine but if it did ever happen it would be pure tokenism unless another sovereign state decides to provide an independent Scotland with financial backing.