The Spanish government has called for joint sovereignty over Gibraltar after the UK decided to leave the European Union.

95.9% of ‘The Rock’s’ 30,000 population voted overwhelmingly for staying in the EU.

Speaking on national radio, Spain’s Foreign Minister said:

“It’s a complete change of outlook that opens up new possibilities on Gibraltar not seen for a very long time. I hope the formula of co-sovereignty – to be clear, the Spanish flag on the Rock – is much closer than before.”

Relations aren’t calm however, in May last year, a Spanish patrol boat reportedly tried to “hassle” an American nuclear submarine attempting to dock at Gibraltar.

According to multiple sources, flares were fired across the bow of the Spanish Guardia Civil vessel Rio Cedena in mid-April as it twice attempted to sail across the front of the American ballistic missile submarine USS Florida.

The USS Florida, a 20,000 ton Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, was commissioned in 1983 with the hull designation of SSBN-728; with her conversion to a cruise missile submarine, she was re-designated SSGN-728. She carriers 154 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The Guardia Civil launch Rio Cedeña attempted to cross in front of the submarine but was stopped by the actions the Royal Navy’s HMS Sabre and a rigid-hulled inflatable boat, which manoeuvred in close, according to an eyewitness as reported by ‘The Chronicle’.

“The Guardia Civil boat was forced to a dead stop and made to retrace its course well away from the submarine” said Michael Sanchez, who saw the events unfold and photographed key moments.

A spokesman for the Governor’s office confirmed the incursion “…in the vicinity of an incoming submarine.”

“The professionalism  of the Royal Navy and Gibraltar Defence Police ensured there was no risk to safety” the spokesman added.

This is yet another Spanish incursion into Gibraltarian waters. This is the latest in a long line of political infringements and military incursions into the sovereign territory of Gibraltar. Last year the Spanish Ambassador was formally called into Downing Street and a Formal Complaint was made by the FCO after the Diplomatic Bag was opened on the border with Spain.

Recently there have been many complaints regarding the Spanish behavior, the boarder guards have purposely caused delays for workers who travel across daily on orders from the Spanish government, there have been other incursions by Spanish vessels into water and Spanish divers were seen carrying out investigations on the artificial reef off the Gibraltar runway (which runs out into the sea).

 

 

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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118 COMMENTS

  10. It will be up to the Gibraltar inhabitants to decide, but considering that they were overwhelmingly in favour of staying in the EU I certainly wouldn’t blame them if they took up Spain’s offer.

  21. When reading Spanish Politicians statements, in this case the Foreign Minister, it’s worth remembering that these statements are made to a Press which is very much less critical than our own. Most senior Politicians in Spain know that if they made a serious encroachment on Gib, they would be opening up a nasty can of worms, with re Morocco…..

  29. We should give them a vote.

    I can fully understand why Gibraltar’s people wanted to stay in the EU, but it doesn’t mean they want to leave Britain.

    Give them a vote and they can decide what they want to do, if they want to join Spain then let them, if not then let them stay.

  42. If I can be a little blunt… Spain can fuck right off and do it quickly… My fear now is that the bastards will push the situation into a shooting war…

  56. Such negativity towards Spain.

    They are not demanding that it happens or attacking it, they are just stating that it could happen and realistically it could, since Gibraltar relies heavily on free movement of people and goods across the Spanish border.

    In my opinion, living in a democracy, let the people decide. I don’t care if a hundred years ago it was someone elses, today it is the people of Gibraltar’s home.

    I feel a bit nervous about saying this, since i think Israel should pull back from its settlements in Palestine, but i think this is different, even if i am not entirely sure why.

    • Spain and argentina are failing economies who will if allowed war monger to take the minds of their citizens off the fact they’re driving their countries into the ground

  65. They’d lose a war with us Britain as the Spanish will be too busy taken afternoon naps.

    To think Brits are working 40-60+ hour weeks while france, Italy and Spain moan about 35 hour working week and take our fee as the second highest contributer is beyond madness.

    These economies are doomed.

  69. The British should just tell Spain that if it keeps up this BS, the UK will openly back Morocco in claiming Ceuta back from Spain.

  70. Im really surprise of these comments. Even I have English Friends and I will never think about that they will does thing.
    Spain will never invade Gibraltar military, I assure you.
    There are 2 options after brexit:
    1º Due to Gibraltarians has said that 96% want to stay in EU, they need to have special status. Establish an agreement between Spain, EU and UK to gave them the joint-control respecting the british nationality if they want. (A friendly agreement)
    2º If the agreement is impossible Spain could close the border (this is the worst scenario).

    However, I only see these comments.
    You say that UK will defeat easily like in the Falklands war. Well, I dont think so.
    First of all, Argentina needed to arrive to Islands by Sea or by plane due to the distance. Not to say that their technology was outdated. Moreover, Argentina invade the Falklands with 14.000 men in which only 100 were proffesional soldiers. Not to say their outdated equippement.
    In that moment, Spanish armed forced were bigger and better than Argentines but its true that technologically were behind UK.

    However, nowadays, is the opposite. Spain has advanced a lot.
    The most advance spanish radar system “EVA” is at the south (even we have defense satelites”, the anti-aircraft sytem at the south, the biggest air-military base at the south (and we use Eurofighter typhoons not, mirage III) , not to say that Spanish Better troops are at the south. And they are not 100 they are 15.000 (all of them considered proffesional and elite force). In other words, The south of spain is the most advance and protected part of spain (a military suicide entrance). Futhermore, we use advance artillery, advance tanks etc… even we have advanced warships.

    I can add you historical british phrases about the Spanish soldiers: “Spanish had the best soldiers of the Christianity”, “Spanish at the sea I want to see, at land saint george protect us”.
    Or even British modern soldiers in the training in Spain: ” These spanish soldiers are outstanding”.

    Furthermore, in 1982, thatcher asked military experts in how much time the Spanish could invade Gibraltar. The answer was: “the spanish could do in hours because Spaniards are really much better than Argentines”. And was said in a moment that spain was worse technologically.

    And I a man really informed about spanish military status, nowadays, that is not in its maximum military potential. Spain has tercios while argentina a poor outdated soldiers.

    At any case, I consider british as a friends and partners and I can assure that from the part of spain will not do any military adventure. However, I couldnt assure you that if “UP ” win elections that will worsen the relationship between us a lot. Any government lead by a Spanish “liberal” will be good for both while by communists will be a disaster.

  74. Queridos amigos británicos, yo soy español y la situación de Gibraltar no tiene nada que ver con la de Ceuta, Melilla, Las Canarias o Las Baleares. El régimen franquista tuvo una excusa perfecta sacando el conflicto de Gibraltar cuando le convenía, con esto sólo digo que en este referéndum Gibraltar ha votado por mayoría el que Reino Unido no salga de Europa al igual que Escocia o Irlanda. Reuno Unido es quien tiene un problema secesionista en este momento. Lo suscribe un español que esta hasta los cojones del problema independentista español, tan solo deseo que ahora que lo padeceis vosotros nos mostreis el camino. Mucha suerte en vuestra nueva epoca

  76. Brits spend the full year working to get some money to spend 1 week on holidays or retire in Spain escaping from their island. Brits you do not live in paradise so need to escape from your island at the first chance you have, even when they are old leaving their families behind!! Spaniards we have better living here in Spain than you have in the UK so money makes no difference specially when this extra money is in the UK for the british elites and not for the middle-low class workers in the UK that are so screwed as the rest of the world. Do not be so arrogant as you are no different from the others. World would be a better place when everybody would understand this.

  77. Alberto… please stop talking bullocks…

    If Britain is so bad then why are the younger generations of Spanish coming to the UK…for work… go back to your shithole of a country and us Brits will watch the EU devour you… keep your beaches tidy however as we will stop coming on holiday… then your truly fucked….

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