John Swinney has said he does not have confidence that the UK is safe from potential Russian threats – but denied independence would make Scotland even less secure.

The First Minister raised concerns that the UK’s defences do not have sufficient presence in vulnerable areas off Scotland’s coast and that he is ‘very worried’ by security fears highlighted this week by the head of MI5, Sir Ken McCallum, who named Russia as ‘aggressor number one’.

In an interview with BBC Scotland ahead of the SNP’s conference in Aberdeen, he said he was ‘very worried’ about a ‘lack of coastal and offshore protection’.

He said: ‘I don’t think we’ve got nearly the presence in those areas that we require today.

‘There’s an obligation on the United Kingdom government to make sure that the country is safe. And I don’t think the defence posture of the United Kingdom enables me to have that confidence.’

But he denied that independence would weaken Scotland’s security despite the SNP being committed to the removal of Trident nuclear weapons, based at Faslane on the Clyde.

He said that independence would not hamper Scotland’s security, but rather give ‘more choices’.

The First Minister also attempted to capitalise on Andy Burnham wanting to discuss closer ties with the European Union at an upcoming summit. Mr Swinney said: ‘I think it’s an interesting precedent that if we can reopen an issue that’s been decided by a referendum, then we can also reopen Scottish independence.’

In a separate interview with STV, Mr Swinney also said he would be ‘very happy’ to back another EU referendum.

Meanwhile, SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan claimed in an interview with Holyrood magazine that he has a ‘comprehensive overview’ of what defence would look like in an independent Scotland, including in relation to services, equipment and personnel.

But he failed to reveal the details, saying: ‘There will be a time and a place to release that to people and that will be when there’s an audience that is willing to receive it.’