The Diplomat
The National Security Commission of the Congress yesterday rejected a non-legislative proposal of Vox to ask the United Kingdom to put an end to “the use of Gibraltar as a workshop or shelter for nuclear submarines.”
The motion, presented by the Vox MP Agustín Rosety and rejected with 16 votes in favor and 17 against, urged the Government to “carry out all necessary diplomatic actions in order to promote that the United Kingdom ceases the use of the naval base of Gibraltar as a workshop or shelter for nuclear submarines, taking into account the serious threat that this situation poses to the national security of Spain, and the fact that these submarines are sheltered or are being repaired in Spanish territory under international law”.
In his intervention before the Commission, Agustín Rosety (MP for the province of Cádiz) denounced the “nuclear risks” faced by the Bay of Cádiz due to the presence of nuclear submarines, which, moreover, is an “affront” to Spanish sovereignty. “Spain is the only people in Europe subjected to colonization and, like any colony, Gibraltar has the function of extracting the wealth of the colonized country,” he added.
For his part, Socialist Senator César Mogo denounced the “textbook populist nationalism” of “the extreme right”, whose aim is to “take advantage of any loophole to stir up fears” through “falsehoods, decontextualization and documentary poverty”. Likewise, Enrique Santiago, from IU and Unidas Podemos Group, showed his rejection to the presence of nuclear submarines in Spain but affirmed that Vox’s motion intends to “sabotage the delicate moment” of the negotiations between Spain and the United Kingdom on the future of Gibraltar.
In contrast, Maria Jose García (PP) expressed, “as a MP of the province of Cadiz, Jerez, and therefore very close to the Campo de Gibraltar,” the support of his group to the initiative of Vox. “For us the United Kingdom is a partner and ally, is a friend, and we are loyal,” but that loyalty “in no case means keeping silent in relation to the claims of the Campo de Gibraltar and the Spanish” about Gibraltar and its use “as a repair shop for nuclear submarines,” she said. Loyalty “means being clear and putting the cards on the table,” she added.
