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ARCHIVED - Spain complains to UK about maritime incidents off coast of Gibraltar
The Spanish government reported five incidents of concern to London in 2021
The alliance between Spain and the United Kingdom over the governance of the waters surrounding Gibraltar has ever been an uneasy one, and matters came to a head in 2021 when the Spanish government issued five complaints to the UK over incidents involving vessels from both countries.
The Foreign Ministry explained that on each occasion, it considered that “certain actions by the British authorities” either prevented Spain “from carrying out the tasks entrusted to them normally or endangered the safety of their navigation”.
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Although the delegate did not go into detail about which incidents were reported to the UK, one memorable spat caused much embarrassment in September last year, when a Guardia Civil maritime patrol boat and a Royal Navy vessel almost collided in pursuit of suspected drug smugglers when both refused to give up the chase.
Both Spain and the UK are vying for rights to the water surrounding the Rock, but Spanish authorities insist that their country “only ceded the city and the castle of Gibraltar, together with its port, defences and fortresses”. According to the Treaty of Utrecht, Spain only recognises “the waters located within the port” as having UK jurisdiction, and not the “adjoining waters,” where the majority of recent fracases have taken place.
The sixth round of negotiations between the UK and the EU about the future relationship of Gibraltar with the Union is taking place in London this week. The Gibraltar Government says it remains “firmly committed” to securing a positive agreement based on the New Year’s Eve political framework.
Despite the ongoing disagreement between Spain and Gibraltar, the Foreign Ministry acknowledged that whenever Spain raises an issue which it considers to affect maritime security, the ensuing complaint is “considered and valued by the corresponding ministries”.
In any case, the Spanish government fully intends to continue using state vessels to monitor the water adjacent to the Rock of Gibraltar.
Further reading: UK accuses EU of undermining its sovereignty in reference to Brexit negotiations over Gibraltar border
Image: Archive
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