First Minister Alex Salmond's military spending plan for Scotland "completely undermines" the opportunity to take a different approach, according to critics in the pro- independence campaign.
Green and independent MSPs want the SNP leadership to rethink a proposed £2.5 billion annual defence and security budget as part of the Nato nuclear defence alliance.
The SNP changed its policy last year to support membership of Nato, assuming a Yes vote in the referendum in September next year.
The decision led to two MSPs, Jean Urquhart and John Finnie, leaving the SNP and joining a new Green/independent group at Holyrood.
In a jointly-signed letter to Mr Salmond, they wrote: "Our public resources should be focused on challenging society's inequalities, improving people's health and well-being, and helping create an environmentally-sustainable society, and we hope you share that view.
"Independence will give Scotland a chance to do things differently but the SNP's plan to commit £2.5bn to an annual defence and security budget as part of Nato completely undermines this opportunity.
Mr Salmond argued the case for Scotland remaining in Nato during a visit to the US this week. But his ambition for Scotland to become a member of the alliance in its own right before leaving the UK was questioned by political opponents.
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