Will Torness
Saltire and Tricolour flags are flying side-by-side this week to commemorate more than seven centuries of one of Europe’s most enduring symbols of partnership.
When Scotland and France forged the “Auld Alliance” in 1295, both nations calculated that the prospect of a two-front war would stiffen their defences against an expansionist England. It was a strategy of mutually assured security in uncertain times, based on the belief that strength came through solidarity rather than isolation.
The military alliance has long ended, but its spirit endures 730 years later – a blueprint for sustained cooperation that runs against the grain of a fracturing world.
For one, France remains a critical trading partner as the largest importer of Scottish salmon, worth £462 million last year alone, and the second-largest importer of Scotch whisky – in terms of both volume and value (£419 million in 2024).
In renewables, French energy firms are helping power Scotland’s energy transition – from developing the country’s largest offshore wind farm off the Angus coast to Europe’s largest battery, which is easing grid congestion from its location in Moray.
Social ties, too, have added depth and colour to this old friendship. The French Institute in Edinburgh delivers language and culture exchanges through weekly classes, a year-round calendar of cinema and music, along with exhibitions supporting unique, French-owned businesses that are contributing to the local area.
I could go on. But while the value of this centuries-old friendship is no longer existential, its origins illustrate how partnerships, perpetuated over time, can underpin national prosperity and promote cultural heritage.
It’s a principle that resonates as Scotland again finds itself in a period of uncertainty – borne of the post-Brexit and post-pandemic era, the climate crisis, growing populist discontent, and geopolitical realignments. Hedging against this global instability and superpower dominance means Scotland must up its soft-diplomacy game. Tourism and whisky may be its bread and butter, but Scotland has other complementary strengths in life sciences, engineering, and creative industries.
The Scottish Government has made some moves through its 2024 International Strategy, and organisations like Scottish Development International have also helped broker opportunities in various corners of the world. Intensifying global competition, however, makes it even more crucial that Scotland not only fortifies its traditional partnerships but also a wider, diverse network of like-minded smaller nations.
In other words, an Auld Alliance for a new age.
As one of many examples, we need only look across the North Sea, where the potential is ripe to deepen existing foundations with Nordic neighbours whose green energy vision and shared history – stretching back to the Viking age – offer natural channels for alignment. Finland has recently made strategic inroads on climate solutions in places as far off as Chile. Similar partnerships are being reinforced between Denmark and Singapore in the areas of green tech and robotics. These small countries with big ambitions are on the move, and Scotland should – to the extent of its devolved framework – be leading the pack.
But embodying the modern-day Auld Alliance is not simply capitalising on trade or attracting inward investment. Much like the work of the French Institute, this multidimensional approach also means nurturing the threads of language and cultural exchange as well as high-profile sporting events – soft links that strengthen the global social fabric.
In that vein, the Tour de France will set off from Edinburgh’s cobbled streets in 2027, as the initial stage of the race becomes the latest cultural iteration of two nations’ longstanding partnership.
Back in 1295, the initial calculation between Scotland and France was one of practical defence. But the enduring Auld Alliance that has evolved since those medieval days should stand as a constant beacon of what is possible when strategic intent matures over time.
Ultimately, like each team of cyclists that will take part in the Tour, small but mighty nations can go so much farther together than they ever could alone.