MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK denies claims it will send additional military personnel to Gibraltar against Spanish incursions

The Gibraltar squadron was increased from two to three crews, enabling 24-hour coverage, although the number of vessels has remained the same

The UK Ministry of Defense has played down claims that the British Government is to send additional military personnel to Gibraltar. The announcement follows reports in the Daily Express over the weekend that the British Government was to deploy additional sailors to Gibraltar to allow the Royal Navy to operate patrol boats 24 hours a day to challenge “nightmare incursions by Spanish fishing trawlers.”

 However this actually happened at the end of 2013 when the Royal Navy sent additional personnel to the Rock to strengthen its Gibraltar Squadron in response to Spanish incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW).

At the time, the Gibraltar squadron was increased from two to three crews, totaling around 25 sailors, to enable 24-hour coverage, although the number of vessels they operate has remained the same.

What has now happened, according to Headquarters British Forces, is that the increase in personnel has become permanent.

“Five Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron personnel were initially deployed on a temporary basis but that deployment will now become permanent,” a MoD spokesperson said.

The latest Spanish incursion occurred on Monday and saw SPS Vigia, which incurred in BGTW back in February, again sailed through British waters east of the Rock.

The incident is being treated as an unlawful incursion after the crew on the Spanish warship told the Royal Navy over VHF radio that she was in Spanish territorial waters and a formal protest will be made to the Spanish Government.