NANCY Pelosi showered praise on Nicola Sturgeon and Scotland as the two politicians met in the US Capitol.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives hosted the First Minister as she continued her two-day visit to America.
Pelosi thanked Sturgeon for Scotland’s role in the COP26 climate summit and highlighted her leadership talent.
In a statement to the media given alongside Sturgeon, Pelosi said: “It is a personal as well as official pleasure and honour to welcome First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to the Capitol.
“Last time we met was in Glasgow. Thank you for the hospitality and organisation of Scotland in forming COP26 – it was an honour to be there with you.
Join me live as I welcome First Minister @NicolaSturgeon of Scotland to the United States Capitol. https://t.co/0Ck4YvnbZq
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 16, 2022
“Thank you for your leadership in terms of protecting the planet, in reducing all of our dependence by having diversity, [reducing] our dependence on Russian oil.
“Thank you also for welcoming Ukrainian refugees to Scotland.
“When we were in Scotland, in Glasgow, I had the honour of also participating in a presentation – a big crowd of people coming for gender and climate.
“The First Minister has in her own leadership role been a real model to women everywhere in terms of women in leadership, and again, with great excellence, and again, that day, people from all over the world were able to see that manifestation of leadership.
“So, madam First Minister, welcome to the Capitol, thank you for our work together on Covid, the climate, and so many other issues.”
Sturgeon thanked Pelosi for her remarks and offered her own in return, with the First Minister saying: “Thank you very much. It is a real pleasure and privilege for me to be here in the Capitol, having the opportunity to renew my acquaintance with the Speaker, someone for whom I have the utmost respect and admiration.
“I enjoyed very much our meeting and discussions in my home city of Glasgow during COP26, where it was very encouraging to see the United States show such constructive leadership in achieving the progress we made.
“I’m very much looking forward to continuing these discussions with the Speaker today.”
Sturgeon also used her statement to condemn Russia’s “brutal, illegal and unprovoked” invasion of Ukraine.
She continued: “Scotland and the United States are long-standing friends and allies.
“The United States is a very valuable and important economic and trading partner of Scotland, so it is a privilege for me to be here to renew and strengthen that relationship as we stand together as nations in defence of those values we hold dear.”
