US President Barack Obama on Scottish Independence Referendum

 

US President Barack Obama Monday Sep 15,2014 tonight urged Scottish voters not to break apart ‘one of the closest allies we’ll ever have’ by voting for independence on Thursday

Barack Obama does not want Scotland to break up the United Kingdom because the US has a 'deep interest' in keeping it together, his spokesman said

Obama’s spokesman Josh Earnest said: ‘From the outside, the United States has a deep interest in ensuring that one of the closest allies we'll ever have remains strong, robust, united and an effective partner of the United States.’

The remarks came after Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen confirmed Scotland would have to reapply to join the military alliance - and stressed that to do every members would have to agree.

He said: ‘In case that Scotland voted in favour of independence then Scotland would have to apply for membership of Nato as a new independent state. A decision on accession would have to be taken by unanimity, by consensus as always in Nato.’

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said  Obama wanted Britain to remain 'strong, robust, united and an effective partner of the United States'

 

The dramatic intervention, just three days before Scotland goes to the polls, will infuriate Alex Salmond - with the battle for independence set to be decided by the smallest of margins.

Up to half a million voters remain undecided - with concerns over the future of Scotland’s place in major international organisations like the EU, Nato and the UN still hotly debated.

David Cameron urged Scots not to vote for independence in a speech to Better Together supporters in Aberdeen on Monday Sep 15,2014