A SCOTTISH Government minister has left the door open to the US military using Prestwick Airport in its war on Iran – but insisted the base was not used in recent American bombing raids on the country.
External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson refused to say whether the American Air Force would be banned from using the state-owned Ayrshire airport, which is often used by allied militaries as a refuelling stop.
Labour backbencher Carol Mochan (below) asked whether the Scottish Government would rule out allowing America and Israel access while they carried out strikes on Iran.
She said: “Can he assure my constituents that sites like Prestwick Airport will not be used to facilitate attacks on Iran by the USA or indeed to support Israeli aircraft given these efforts have no UN backing whatsoever? And can he be clear what US activity is currently happening at the Prestwick Airport site?”
It comes after former first minister Humza Yousaf warned that the Scottish Government risked becoming complicit in war crimes if it continued to allow access to the Americans.
Robertson said that he had “not seen any information that would support any conclusion about involvement of Scottish facilities being used directly in terms of military attacks on Iran” saying that previous strikes did not involve the airport.
American bombers were refuelled “in the air” before bombing Iran and then returned back to the US without stopping at Prestwick, Robertson said.
He added: “I understand the point that she’s making more generally about Prestwick Airport, if she has any information that would support the conclusion, the concern that she has, I would be grateful to hear that.
“We remain in dialogue with the UK Government – her party is in government in the UK, perhaps she would take the opportunity through her good offices to raise this with responsible UK ministers.
“In terms of devolved responsibilities, we will do everything that we can but she will appreciate that there are limits.”
Later asked by Tory MSP Stephen Kerr (above) whether there were any formal arrangements with the US to allow military access to Prestwick Airport, Robertson replied: “I would have to check the status.
“I’m not aware of any memoranda of understanding but he will appreciate, it’s a matter of public record, Prestwick Airport is used by the US Air Force, the Canadian Royal Airforce, a number of air forces from the Middle East.”
Kenny MacAskill, leader of the Alba Party, said that the Scottish Government must ban American military planes from using the site.
In a statement, he said: “It’s not Kneecap or Palestine Action who are the threat to our society and planet but those complicit in the genocide and war.
“We should be ceasing fuelling US war planes at Prestwick not deplatforming an Irish rap band at a music event.”
The Scottish Government cut off Israel’s access to Prestwick Airport after controversy last year.
The move, made during Yousaf’s spell as first minister, came after an Israeli Air Force plane used the base as a stopping off point while travelling between America and Beersheba in November 2023.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said at the time the state-owned airport had “taken the independent decision not to conduct further business with the Israeli Air Force”.
