Fredbargate

https://www.express.co.uk/news/polit...-brexit-latest

Gibraltar Brexit row: EU will ‘ALWAYS side with Spain’ leaked document reveals

SPAIN is attempting to leverage the threat of no-deal Brexit to force the European Union into supporting its claims to sovereignty over Gibraltar according to a leaked EU document.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...ecolonisation/

Fredbargate

Downing Street has said it is "completely unacceptable" to describe Gibraltar as a "colony", after the term was used in an EU document.On Friday, EU ambassadors agreed to allow UK citizens visa-free travel to the continent - even after a no-deal Brexit. But the proposal prompted a fresh row over "The Rock".

https://news.sky.com/story/eu-agrees...rexit-11624541

criodain

It's not the same as the UK though, same as Northern Ireland isn't the same as Somerset, contrary to what that plank Jacob Rees Mogg said yesterday.
I would say that Gibraltar is probably more "British" than Northern Ireland, as Gibraltar doesn't have around half the population who'd rather be of another nationality.

criodain

While it might be disrespectful according to Downing Street, how else would you describe Gibraltar, but a colony?

Cape Blue

How would you describe Ceuta and Melilla? Or what about Hawaii. Or what about French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Martinique?

criodain

Colonies.

MikeJ

Spain would dearly love Gibraltar to be classified as a colony as then it would come under the UN decolonisation process, which pays little attention to the rights and desires of the inhabitant- Spain would simply reclaim Gib claiming territorial integrity. No, Gibralter is a self governing British Overseas Territory and any change in that status would be based on self- determination of the inhabitants. Spain claims that there is no such thing as a Gibraltarian simply British colonists who therefore have no rights to self determination
So yes, referring to Gibraltar as a colony is avery important issue which must not be slipped in as a footnote.

criodain

Indeed, right to self determination is important in Gibraltar, as in Northern Ireland, but I still see it as a colony. I'm not saying that as a negative thing, just an observation. Same as Northern Ireland. I'm not one of those people who refuse to recognise Nothern Ireland, but it's essentially a colony to me.

Fredbargate

Gibraltar has been attending the UN 24th committee on decolonisation for over 50 years whilst Spain has been doing the same to protest.
However territorial integrity is overruled by the will of the people among other arguments.and is a non starter. Also what would that mean for Morocco and Ceuta, Melilla etc?

A good read on this subject is Stephen Potts at https://www.academia.edu

One paper at random https://www.academia.edu/36763568/Gi...?auto=download

Also you will find he has written papers on the Falklands

criodain

I'm sure those clowns in Vox only love stoking things up as well...

Fredbargate

Royal Navy made to look a fool of themselves

The latest incident has made news in some UK papers. One referred to a tiny 50ft Royal Navy vessel being sent to handle a 300ft Spanish patrol ship after a two-hour stand-off when the larger craft gate crashed a UK training exercise off Gibraltar.

Royal Navy made to look a fool of themselves | Gibraltar Panorama

DaveLovesDee

The comment by a poster made me laugh. He's not serious, is he?

The UK isn't petty enough to infringe on Spanish waters.

DaveLovesDee

I've just realised this thread is in the Spain area of the site.

Fredbargate

dougal03

We won't see combat RAF aircraft much operating anywhere soon & our Royal Navy have hardly anything left either.My relatives in Portsmouth & Plymouth can vouch for that as our Military have been severely depleted.Can't even get enough suitable recruits to join our Armed Forces(I was in the RAF).As to Ceuta & Melilla these were the first places in Africa that were established by the Spanish church into Christianity & for that reason have enormous religious significance which the Catholic faith will not relinquish easily.