AN independent Scotland would have to apply to join Nato, the head of the military alliance has said.
Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said all 28 member states would have to back an independent application, in the event of a Yes vote.
He said: "In the case Scotland voted in favour of independence then Scotland would have to apply for membership of Nato as a new independent state.
"Some aspiring countries have waited for many years. Others enjoy a very short procedure, depending on how close they are to fulfilling the necessary criteria."
He added: "A decision on accession would have to be taken by unanimity, by consensus, as always in Nato."
In a major policy reverse, the SNP voted two years ago that an independent Scotland should join Nato. However, the party remains fully committed to removing nuclear weapons from the Clyde, a position that has raised questions about whether an independent Scotland's would be able to join the alliance smoothly.
Des Browne, Labour's former Defence Secretary, said: "Alex Salmond has not explained how he intends to remove our nuclear deterrent while simultaneously rejoining a nuclear alliance. It simply is not credible."
Sir Menzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, said removing Trident from the Clyde while seeking to join Nato - which is based on a nuclear deterrent - was "contradictory" and would "inevitably feature in consideration of an independent Scotland's application".
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We have made clear that following a vote for independence, the Scottish Government will notify Nato of our intention to join the alliance and negotiate a transition from membership as part of the UK to independent membership, taking our place as one of the many non-nuclear members."
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