The Diplomat
The Foreign Office is investigating the incident this past Tuesday between a British ship and a Spanish Navy patrol boat during a Royal Navy military maneuvers off the coast of Gibraltar before giving its “disagreement”.
“It is a sensitive issue that carries the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which, as already expressed its disagreement with the incidents of this summer, is being analyzed and if so would do so again,” he told the press yesterday the subdelegate of the Government in Cadiz, Jose Pacheco, quoted by the local press.
Pacheco also highlighted the fact that the incident has occurred “in the midst of negotiations” between the European Commission and the United Kingdom on the future relationship of Gibraltar with the European Union after Brexit. “We are all working together, the Gibraltar side and also the Spanish side, because we want to aspire to that space of shared prosperity,” but “these incidents and conflicts do not help,” he warned. “Yes it does collaboration and good understanding, that spirit of negotiation that has been since the then Minister (Arancha) Gonzalez Laya announced the agreement for the aspiration of the Campo de Gibraltar,” he added.
The negotiations are currently at a standstill pending the formation of a government in Spain and the general elections in Gibraltar, scheduled for next October 12. “Let’s hope that at the time we finish the electoral processes, both the one that knows we are here in Spain and the elections that will come on October 12 in Gibraltar, negotiations are resumed and we reach a good port, which is the important thing,” said the deputy delegate of the Government.
According to local newspaper Europa Sur, the incident occurred after the Ceuta-based Navy patrol vessel Isla de Leon (P-83) was intercepted by the British patrol vessel HMS Cutlass while sailing towards the east coast of La Linea after crossing the Bay of Algeciras. Following the interception, the British vessel urged the Spanish vessel to leave “British jurisdictional waters” because of “military exercises”.
The Royal Navy conducted military maneuvers on Tuesday in the maritime area on the eastern side of the Rock. The United Kingdom claims sovereignty over the waters surrounding the Rock, but Spain does not accept British claims on the grounds that the Treaty of Utrecht only ceded to Britain the city, the port and its inland waters and defenses, but not the waters. The Royal Navy had announced these maneuvers in the BGTW (British Gibraltar Territorial Waters) a few days ago, but without specifying the number or type of vessels.
The new incident with the Royal Navy is preceded by other recent events, especially in August. At the end of that month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented a note verbale of protest to the United Kingdom over the incidents and reiterated that Spanish waters were involved, and therefore considered that the actions of the Gibraltarian vessels represented an “unjustifiable intrusion” in the sovereignty of our country.
