Luis Ayllón
The British government has decided not to send the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force (RAF) aerobatic patrol to Gibraltar for a display, after the Spanish authorities informed London of their dissatisfaction with the initiative, The Diplomat has learnt from reliable sources.
The Red Arrows were due to carry out a display today in Menorca and another on the Rock next Thursday. In response to Spain’s refusal to allow them to cross its airspace to reach the British colony, the planes had planned to do so via Tangiers, Morocco.
The RAF aerobatic patrol was last in Gibraltar in 2009, and even then, the Spanish government did not give permission for the use of its airspace, despite which the display took place. Given the characteristics of the manoeuvres carried out by the ‘Red Arrow’, similar to those of the Spanish Eagle Patrol, it is very difficult not to violate that airspace during the display.
In recent weeks, both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence have made it clear to their British counterparts that putting on their show in Gibraltar would not be considered a friendly gesture, at a time when negotiations are underway between Brussels and London on the future of the Rock after Brexit, although they are currently at a standstill due to the formation of a government in Spain and the elections called in the colony for 12 October.
The ‘Red Arrows’ exhibition, although being prepared, was not confirmed at any time by the British Embassy when asked by The Diplomat, nor was it formally announced in Gibraltar, where it would have been received very satisfactorily, as it was fourteen years ago. At the time, its political leaders stressed that the fact that some 20 aircraft painted red, white and blue, the colours of the British flag during their show, should be interpreted as a response to Spain’s traditional claim to sovereignty over the Rock.
The formal reason for the RAF’s programme for the display was the commemoration of the Battle of Britain, the great confrontation between British aircraft and Nazi German aircraft in 1940.
After taking the decision not to go to Gibraltar, as a result of Spanish pressure, the British Ministry of Defence yesterday afternoon also decided to cancel the Menorca show, which was to be attended by representatives of the British Embassy in Madrid – headed by the Minister Counsellor, Sarah Cowley, and which had been prepared in coordination with the island’s tourism officials.
Menorca and Gibraltar are precisely the two territories that England took possession of in 1713, during the War of Succession. The former was not returned to Spain until a century later, and the latter is still a British colony.
