SINCE the re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 successive First Ministers, and other members of their administrations, have travelled and undertaken meetings overseas as an integral part of their work. This has been an important task for ministers as they seek to influence international partners, promote Scotland and encourage investment. This was not new and even before the devolved era Conservative Scottish Office Ministers would engage internationally to boost trade and influence policy.

The relationship with the USA, the world’s foremost superpower and biggest economy, is of particular importance, not just for Scotland but every country given its size and clout. Our relationship with the USA is a special one with close links going right back to its foundation. Several signatories to the US Declaration of Independence were Scots and 34 out of 44 US Presidents have some Scottish ancestry. Today there are a thousand Scottish clubs and associations across that vast country and millions of Americans claim Scots ancestry.

The links go both ways with thousands of US staff and students enrichening our universities, US companies providing a third of foreign investment in Scotland supporting 90,000 jobs and thousands of US tourists visiting Scotland every year.

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A visit to the USA is therefore an important event for any First Minister. During her visit this week Nicola Sturgeon has engaged in a series of high-profile meetings in Washington DC including those at the world leading Brookings Institution, meeting the Deputy Secretary of State and of course her meeting with Speaker Pelosi, one of the most senior politicians in the country and influential actors in American politics.

There will also be interest among US policy makers about what the First Minister’s plans for an independence referendum means for them. Scotland’s geographical location in the High North with a long maritime border means that our importance cannot be overlooked when it comes to European security. The meetings that the First Minister had this week reflect the interest US politicians have in our future. They will have been interested in the First Minister’s remarks about Russian aggression in Ukraine, her plans that Scotland should join Nato as well as the EU and commitment to the peace process in Northern Ireland that US legislators fear is being undermined by the Brexit process.

US politicians and influencers will have been reassured by the First Minister’s comments that Scotland takes its international obligations seriously. This also reflects an important diplomatic role that the First Minister has to play to help international partners understand her Government’s political priorities. That is a basic function for any government and one that both fully independent and sub-state entities invest in.

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Scotland has a growing international profile and as the Scottish Government moves towards independence it is important to engage with partners in the global community. That is perfectly normal and even states that are not independent or seeking independence invest in their international relations. Indeed many sub-state actors spend more on their international engagement than the Scottish Government does.

Far too often in Scotland we debate whether we should be engaging internationally than scrutinising the policy gains of such work. Scotland has a large international footprint and well-known brand, it would be better to focus on how we use that to improve the lives of citizens at home and overseas rather than question whether we should even do so. International affairs have an impact on jobs, investment and livelihoods and is a serious part of any Government’s work. It would be good to see our debate and discussion on the issue reflect that.