Greens Demand US Military Flights Be Barred From Prestwick
•February 16, 2026
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Why It Matters
The dispute tests Scotland’s legal autonomy over public infrastructure while potentially reshaping transatlantic defence logistics and regional economic interests.
Key Takeaways
- •Greens cite 550 US flights since April 2025.
- •They call for barring US military from all Scottish airports.
- •Scottish Government says airport runs independently from ministers.
- •Labour warns restriction could harm NATO cooperation and jobs.
- •Conservatives label Greens' move political stunt, stress strategic asset.
Pulse Analysis
The presence of United States military aircraft at civilian hubs such as Glasgow Prestwick has become a flashpoint in Scotland’s ongoing debate over jurisdiction and sovereign control. Data from Flightradar24, cited by the Scottish Greens, shows more than 550 landings since April 2025, suggesting a pattern of routine use rather than occasional stop‑overs. While host‑nation agreements typically permit allied forces to access commercial airports for logistical reasons, critics argue that repeated deployments blur the line between commercial activity and de facto foreign military bases, raising questions about compliance with Scottish legal authority and international norms.
The Greens’ parliamentary push has drawn sharp rebuke from Labour and the Scottish Conservatives, who stress the airport’s strategic contribution to NATO’s Atlantic Bastion programme and local employment. Prestwick serves as a logistical gateway for transatlantic defence, supporting undersea cable protection and rapid deployment of allied forces. Restricting US access, they warn, could erode collective security arrangements and jeopardise jobs tied to military transit revenue. At the same time, the Scottish Government maintains that the airport operates at arm’s length, limiting ministerial oversight and framing the dispute as a commercial‑operational issue rather than a policy decision.
Beyond the immediate political clash, the episode highlights a broader tension between allied logistics and host‑nation autonomy. As the United Kingdom reassesses its defence posture post‑Brexit, Scotland’s demand for stricter control could set a precedent for other regions seeking to limit foreign military use of public infrastructure. If the Scottish Government were to impose restrictions, it might compel the US to negotiate new basing agreements or shift operations to alternative ports, potentially reshaping NATO’s northern logistics chain. Conversely, a concession could reinforce the status quo, underscoring the pragmatic balance between sovereignty concerns and the operational demands of collective defence.
Greens demand US military flights be barred from Prestwick
The Scottish Greens have called on the Scottish Government to evict US military forces from Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay MSP said the party will use a parliamentary debate on Wednesday to push for the US military to be barred from using Prestwick and other publicly-owned airports in Scotland, arguing that the scale of activity represents sustained routine use rather than occasional stop-offs. The Greens said their figures were compiled using Flightradar24 data and show activity on most days since 1 April 2025.
Mackay linked the issue directly to wider criticism of US President Donald Trump, accusing his administration of disregard for Scottish legal authority and international norms. “Donald Trump is no friend of Scotland. He has shown total contempt for our courts and for human rights around the world,” she said. She also referenced reports that the United States ignored a decision of the Court of Session and removed two individuals from Scottish waters in January, describing the incident as a breach of Scottish jurisdiction.
“We’ve now uncovered that the US military has landed at the Scottish Government’s Prestwick Airport more than 550 times, almost every single day, since the 1st April 2025,” Mackay added. “That is not just the occasional stop-off, that is sustained and routine military use of publicly-owned Scottish infrastructure.”
The Greens warned that continued access for US forces risks drawing Scotland into controversial foreign policy actions, with Mackay pointing to events including the reported US operation against Venezuela and heightened tensions surrounding Greenland. She argued that allowing the use of Prestwick could make Scotland complicit in actions that conflict with domestic and international law.
“Prestwick Airport is not a private military base. It is a publicly owned airport operated under the authority of the Scottish Government,” she said, adding: “It is simply unacceptable that a foreign military, which has shown a total disregard for Scottish and international law, is continuing to use our publicly-owned infrastructure.” Mackay said the Scottish Government must act immediately, calling for what she described as the eviction of US military operations from Prestwick and a halt to access at all Scottish Government-owned airports. “This is about ensuring no government, no matter how powerful, can disregard Scotland’s legal authority while enjoying unrestricted access to our public assets,” she said.
The Scottish Government said:
“Prestwick Airport operates on a commercial basis and at arms length from the Scottish Government. Operational decisions regarding the day-to-day running of the airport are a matter for its management.”
Labour MSP Paul Sweeney criticised the Greens’ proposal, warning it would undermine transatlantic defence links and damage Scotland’s economy. He argued Prestwick plays a strategic role in NATO cooperation and remains a key transit hub supporting wider Euro-Atlantic security efforts. “Prestwick Airport remains a strategic gateway for transatlantic defence links, supporting NATO’s vital work, including the new Atlantic Bastion programme, which is transforming how we protect our undersea cables, pipelines, and sea lanes from Russian aggression,” Sweeney said.
He claimed restricting access would weaken collective defence at a time of increasing threats from authoritarian states, and said the airport benefits from legitimate military transits.
“In a world where threats from authoritarian states are growing, closing off our closest ally’s access would weaken collective defence, hurt Scottish jobs reliant on the airport’s revenue from legitimate military transits, and signal division at a time when unity is crucial,” he said. Sweeney added that Scotland should focus on ensuring transparent and profitable use of the airport, rather than what he described as isolationist gestures, and argued the Greens should instead oppose any privatisation of Prestwick given its perceived strategic and economic value.
Additionally, Scottish Conservative MSP for South Scotland Sharon Dowey said: “Prestwick Airport is a huge asset to Ayrshire and to Scotland. We should be taking every opportunity to promote it and attract more investment into the area. Instead, the Scottish Greens are using it as a pawn to make a cheap political stunt.
We know the airport plays an important strategic role, supporting military operations and contributing to the security of the UK and our allies. Frankly, the Scottish Greens shouldn’t be meddling in matters they clearly know nothing about.”
The post Greens demand US military flights be barred from Prestwick first appeared on UK Defence Journal.
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