David Cameron, the UK Foreign Secretary, has threatened to end cooperation with Scottish ministers after Humza Yousaf, the Scottish First Minister, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on December 1st. According to Lord Cameron, the meeting between Yousaf and Erdogan breaches protocol, since there was no UK official present at the meeting. This statement comes amidst ongoing tensions between the Scottish government and the UK government regarding foreign official meetings. Cameron has now written to the Scottish National Party’s External Affairs Secretary to warn of potential future action if protocol is not adhered to.
Previously, as Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly had issued a similar threat after Yousaf met the Icelandic prime minister in August with no UK diplomats present. However, a UK government source noted that Cameron’s threat represents an escalation over the issue, and Cameron wishes to take a harder line approach than Cleverly. The meeting between Yousaf and Erdogan has already caused some controversy within Yousaf’s own party. SNP councillor Roza Salih voiced her disgust at the meeting.
Yousaf defended the meeting, stating that he discussed the climate crisis and the Israel-Gaza conflict during the meeting, and called for an immediate ceasefire in the region. Erdogan has previously taken a critical stance towards Israel, accusing them of behaving like a “war criminal”. These comments came at a pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul in October, which led Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to order diplomats to return. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by stating that Israel has “the most moral army in the world”.
A UK government source noted that Cameron feels the move made by Yousaf “undermined UK foreign policy”. Cameron has written in a letter that further breaches of protocol from the Scottish government would result in no further FCDO facilitation of meetings or logistical support. The presence of Scottish government offices in UK government posts would also be reconsidered. The BBC has approached the Scottish government for a response to the situation
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