A diplomatic row has erupted between the Uk and Scottish Government’s at Humza Yousaf met with world leaders during Cop28 with without an official from the Foreign Office present
Scottish Secretary and Foreign Secretary David cameron have both raised concerns after The First Minister’s meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday.
Lord Cameron has threatened to withhold support for the Scottish Government’s international relations efforts due to a lack of Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) presence over the spat, while Mr Jack claimed the breach of protocol happened on four other occasions during the First Minister’s time at the summit.
Mr Jack told MPs there were also meetings with European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and acting Pakistani Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar.
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What will David Cameron achieve in Humza Yousaf spat?
Yousaf triggered diplomatic row by meeting Turkey's President Erdogan
Pictures of Mr Yousaf with foreign leaders mentioned were posted on X, formerly Twitter, showing him in discussions with Ms von der Leyen and Mr Michel, as well as posed with the Turkish President and Lebanese Prime Minister, respectively.
The Scottish Secretary also described President Erdogan as someone the Foreign Office “did not believe should be met”.
In a letter on Sunday, the Foreign Secretary said: “The absence of an official “contravenes the protocols in our guidance on FCDO support to devolved Government ministers’ overseas visits”.
He went on to say: “I remain open to discussing a constructive way forward. However, any further breaches of the protocol of ministerial meetings having a FCDO official present will result in no further FCDO facilitation of meetings or logistical support.
“We will also need to consider the presence of Scottish Government offices in UK Government posts.”
First Minister @HumzaYousaf met His Excellency @HHichilema, President of Zambia, at #COP28 on Saturday.
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) December 2, 2023
They discussed key climate challenges for the global community & urgency of action on #LossandDamage.
Read more on @scotgov actions on the issue - https://t.co/hBoXayfTHf pic.twitter.com/1t1HrdsVgo
Responding, the First Minister said the letter was “petty and misguided”.
He said: “Scotland is the part of the UK, outside of London, that has attracted the most foreign direct investment for eight years in a row, that happens because the Scottish Government’s international engagement is valued (and) has impact.
“To threaten to curtail that, to stop that international engagement – the international engagement from the elected Scottish Government from an unelected lord – I think is misguided and petty.”
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