NICOLA Sturgeon has said she aims to build on the “already strong ties” between Scotland and the US as she prepares to head to Washington DC.

The First Minister will speak at the Brookings Institute think-tank and meet congressional groups and business leaders during her two-day visit from tomorrow.

She said Scotland and the US could work together on issues like climate change and the crisis resulting from the war in Ukraine.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Sturgeon said: “The USA remains one of Scotland’s most important international and trading partners, and our biggest source of inward investment.

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“Our two nations share a strong relationship – one which we can strengthen further still by working together to tackle pressing global issues such as the climate emergency, gender inequality, and the crisis resulting from Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

“We share many priorities and face many of the same challenges, and by working together we can better address these.

“Both of us are focused on rebuilding our economies following the impact of Covid, while simultaneously aiming to advance, and seize, the opportunities of decarbonisation.”

The First Minister stressed the need for countries to deal with the climate crisis.

She added: “Six months ago, COP26 brought the world to Glasgow united around one issue – the climate crisis. Global attention since then has understandably been elsewhere, but the issues discussed at COP26 remain pressing.

“The progress made in the Glasgow Climate Pact showed the value in engaging the key players face-to-face, and that is why opportunities to do so as we emerge from the pandemic are so important. However, what was agreed then must be acted upon with urgency.

“Making the most of our longstanding relationship and our close trade and investment links has ongoing benefits for Scotland and the USA.

“The Scottish Government wants to encourage more investment and even deeper collaboration on key issues further, and as I visit the USA for the first time in three years, I look forward to building upon the already strong ties between our two countries.”

The visit comes after the Scottish Government’s launched a new global affairs framework, which outlines key areas of focus such as global citizenship, gender equality and respect for human rights.

It also outlines a commitment to ensuring Scotland can continue to maintain a close relationship with the EU after Brexit.

The National: Brookings, Samantha Gross.

The First Minister’s speech will be held at 6pm tomorrow and is available to watch online. Afterwards she will participate in a discussion with director of the energy security and climate initiative at Brookings, Samantha Gross (above) and people have been invited to submit questions by emailing events@brookings.edu or by using #EnergySecurity on Twitter.

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Last week Sturgeon pledged she would also “make clear” the impact overturning Roe v Wade will have on women’s rights when she visits America. It comes after a document was leaked which suggested that the Supreme Court – the country’s most senior legal body – is in favour of overturning the landmark ruling, which could open the door to states banning abortion.

Sturgeon said: “My views on what we might be about to see in terms of the overturning of Roe v Wade, and what that means for abortion and for a woman’s right to choose – principally in America, but the potential impact of that globally – is well-known.

“I’ll make that clear in America, and I’ll make that clear here. A woman’s right to choose, in my view, is fundamental.”

The Conservatives have criticised the trip as an “indy tour”.