SNP Foreign Affairs and Defence Newsletter Edition 5 - August 2021

Afghanistan Withdrawal: Multilateralism and Alliances Needed Now More Than Ever The rapid victory of the Taliban has shocked many. Meanwhile, President Biden’s unilateral actions during the crisis has reignited fears that it will always be ‘America First’.

Writing in The Scotsman, Alyn Smith MP and Stewart McDonald MP urged liberal democracies not to turn their back on multilateralism but should instead learn from the mistakes of Afghanistan. In an increasingly dangerous world, the bonds between liberal democracies must be strengthened. Read more here.

UK Must Save End Gurkha How Ordinary Scots Afghan Refugees Injustice Now Can Help Afghans

For several weeks , the SNP have Despite their sacrifices over the years, Writing in a sta tement on his been urging the UK Government to Gurkhas who have fought with British website, Stewart McDonald MP do what it takes to save Afghans at forces continue to suffer from outlined how ordinary Scots can risk of Taliban reprisals. Groups at unequal treatment, including play their part to help Afghans. risk include interpreters who worked receiving smaller pensions than their Actions that can be taken include with NATO forces, ethnic minorities, British-born colleagues. charity donations, donating air women and LGBT+ people. miles, and amplyifing the voices of In protest at the situation, several Afghans at risk of marginalisation SNP Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Gurkha veterans participated in a and reprisals. Alyn Smith MP has reiterated that hunger strike outside the Ministry of stands ready and willing to Defence and across the road from 10 He reiterated that Scotland stands take vulnerable Afghans in. After Downing Street for 13 days. During ready to accept refugees trying to Scotland's successful experiences this time, SNP Defence Spokesperson escape Afghanistan and reassured with Syrian refugees, he urged the Stewart McDonald MP wrote to the constituents that himself and others UK Government to allow Scotland to Defence Secretary urging him to listen will continue seeking solutions and play its part in helping Afghans. to the Gurkhas and take action to hold the UK Government to account redress this historic injustice. for its actions. See more here and here Read it here. Read more here.

A Scottish Feminist SNP Engaging with Lebanon Crisis Foreign Policy Afghan Community Continues SNP MPs and staff participated in an Several member s of the SNP, A year after the B eirut Port Blast and interesting discussion on Feminist including Foreign Affairs very little has changed. The port Foreign Policy (FFP) with Spokesperson Alyn Smith MP, met remains damaged whilst the country University professor, Dr Toni with members of the Afghan is suffering one of the worst Haastrup. Community in Scotland last week. A economic crises in 150 years. SNP fruitful discussion was had as Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Alyn The discussion revolved around Afghans explained their worries Smith MP wrote how Lebanon's what actions Scotland can take to about the situation and what they crisis demonstrates the need for the promote a FFP and what lessons it believe should be done to take international community to engage can learn from other countries things forward and help vulnerable in sustainable state-building to around the world which have Afghans escape the Taliban. resolve humanitarian disasters like already implemented it. this. Read more here. See more here. Read more here.

Uyghurs and Other Minorities Ethiopia Edges Closer to Civil Face Further Discrimination War and Famine A damning story emerged earlier this month when it The Tigray Conflict in Ethiopia was dire in November. emerged that some Airbnb listings in China were actively Now, it is catastrophic with thousands dead or displaced discriminating against Uyghurs and other minorities. In and millions more needing humanitarian aid. addition, the accounts discriminated against those from politically sensitive areas such as Hong Kong. As the conflict intensifies and spreads to other regions, SNP Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Alyn Smith MP has In a letter to Airbnb, SNP Foreign Affairs spokesperson urged for the international community to ensure access Alyn Smith MP expressed his concerns that this had been for the delivery of humanitarian aid. He has also called allowed to take place and welcomed Airbnb's intention for the provision of a neutral forum to resolve the bitter to remove such accounts. He also sought reassurances political dispute between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that such discrimination would not take place again. and the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front.

Read the letter here. Read more here.

Alyn Smith MP Stewart McDonald MP SNP Foreign Affairs Spokesperson SNP Defence Spokesperson @AlynSmith @StewartMcDonald [email protected] [email protected] www.alynsmith.scot @SNP_GlobalScots www.stewartmcdonald.scot