Nicola Sturgeon has described the US Supreme Court decision to strike down a federal abortion law as "one of the darkest days for women's rights in my lifetime".
The landmark Roe v Wade law - which guaranteed a right to abortion across the US - has been ripped up after 49 years.
The First Minister said the US Supreme Court decision could embolden "anti-women forces in other countries".
Half of US states are expected to introduce new restrictions or bans and abortion access is expected to be cut off for about 36 million women of reproductive age.
Reacting to the news, Sturgeon said: "One of the darkest days for women’s rights in my lifetime.
"Obviously the immediate consequences will be suffered by women in the US - but this will embolden anti-abortion and anti-women forces in other countries too.
"Solidarity doesn’t feel enough right now - but it is necessary."
Democratic governors of several states including California, New Mexico and Michigan have already announced plans to enshrine abortion rights within their constitutions if Roe v Wade is overturned.
Former US president Barack Obama said: "Today, the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues — attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans."
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