The international and security case for Scottish independence has been boosted with Yes endorsements from senior Scottish military and diplomatic figures only days before the referendum.
 
The senior Faslane Naval intelligence officer Lieutenant Commander Colin May who has just retired from the Royal Navy and former British Ambassador Donald MacLaren have both declared their support for a Yes victory in the referendum. The announcement comes shortly after a Yes vote was supported by the last UK ambassador to NATO Dame Mariot Leslie and the former head of the UK defence industry association Ian Godden.
 
Prior to being Officer Commanding Scotland's Royal Navy intelligence coordination Lieutenant Commander Colin May was Deputy Director Naval Intelligence at Fleet Headquarters and also served at Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ), Northwood and at NATO Joint Force Command in Naples.
 
Donald MacLaren joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1978 and served in Berlin, Moscow and at the FCO. He was deputy Head of Mission in Cuba, Venezuela and Ukraine, before becoming UK Ambassador to Georgia.
 
Speaking about his support for a Yes vote in the referendum Lieutenant Commander Colin May said:
 
"I am proud to have served with the Royal Navy for 29 years and am convinced that independence offers the best future for Scottish maritime defence and security. As a Northern European nation Scotland must fulfil its domestic and regional responsibilities and it is in the interests of NATO allies to welcome Scotland as a conventional partner.
 
"My years of Royal Navy service have taught me that Faslane would be an excellent conventional naval base and home for Scottish Joint Forces HQ. The defence plans by the Scottish Government would deliver the necessary capability for Scotland and the ability to contribute to NATO operations.
 
"Unfortunately the UK has not taken the northern dimension seriously in recent years. We are without any serious ocean going conventional vessels based in Scotland and the MOD scrapped the entire Maritime Patrol Aircraft fleet.
 
"Scotland is in an excellent position to properly equip and maintain defence forces, just like other northern neighbours. I know many Royal Navy colleagues who would be delighted to serve in Scottish Defence Forces. More settled military service in Scotland will also be of huge benefit to defence dependent communities like those around Faslane and Coulport.
 
Retired Ambassador Donald MacLaren wrote the following about his support for Yes:
 
"Today’s reality is that, with the Union, we continue to float downwards. History moves on. Scotland, at least, is willing and able to make it.
 
"As to foreign policy, the UK has long since lost the instinct and determination to make  policy and to influence. When asked for clarity on so many issues, the Ministerial mantra is: “We are consulting closely with our partners.” Clinging desperately to our seat at the “top table” has become a mask for indecisiveness and lack of leadership. But could an independent Scotland really have a serious foreign policy and adequate representation abroad? I tell you, there are plenty of Scots (and non-Scots) in the Foreign Office and in every other branch of government who are ready to swap shaughly Union decision-making for the creativeness and vigour of real responsibility within a Scotland making its new way in the world.
 
"There are three centres of derision and hostility ranged against our commitment and self-confidence. These are not from overseas. They are the UK’s own Labour, Liberal and Conservative Parties – the same who wish, in vain, to obstruct Scotland having a common currency so as to shore up their own predictions of Scottish failure.
 
"The Scots have overcome greater hurdles in their history than what three lacklustre, naysaying political leaders can throw up against them.
 
"Is, then, a brave new Scotland to “rule the world” as the United Kingdom once did? Of course not. But many at Westminster will be surprised at our ability to rule our own affairs better than they have. For the rest of the world, respectful and admiring of Scotland’s resourcefulness and resilience, it will be no surprise. They will see us succeed."

Yes Scotland Chief Executive Blair Jenkins said: "These senior voices from  the diplomatic and defence sectors supporting independence  are very welcome . Lt. Col Colin May - as a senior intelligence officer at Faslane has a  grasp of the way the MoD has so seriously run down the defence footprint in Scotland. He says that independence offers the ' best future for Scottish maritime defence and security ' and more and more Scots see that Westminster's handling of defence in Scotland has been appalling . Their obsession with weapons of mass destruction being dumped on the Clyde whilst troop numbers fall to record low numbers offers no future and can only end with a Yes vote .

''Donald MacLaren's comments come hot on the heels of Dame Mariot Leslie who was the UK  Ambassador to NATO who will also be voting Yes. She made clear that Scotland would be welcomed into the NATO alliance with no problem. Mr MacLaren says the anti-independence parties have wanted to ' obstruct  Scotland's plans for their short term political aims'.

''As polling day approaches these interventions from two such  senior voices add to the growing number of people who realise that a Yes vote offers the best future for Scotland's defence and our relationships with the international community.''