A package of new measures announced by the Defense Secretary has reaffirmed the UK’s support to Gibraltar. On his first visit since becoming Secretary of State, Michael Fallon paid tribute to those working to support defense activities in Gibraltar and emphasized the strategic importance of the permanent joint operating base there.
The Foreign Office reacted strongly to the 5 October 2014 serious incursion into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) by a Spanish state research vessel. In response to the incident, the Minister for Europe, the Rt Hon David Lidington MP, earlier called Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Gonzalo de Benito to express his grave concern.
Spanish fighter jets illegally entered UK airspace to fly “across the bows” of a British airliner in a “reckless and dangerous” stunt over Gibraltar, according to a report in the Sunday Express.
The European Commission has informed the British Government that it has found no breach of EU environmental laws in the activities carried out by the Gibraltar Government including bunkering activities, the Eastside or Sovereign Bay project and, in particular, the Artificial Reef System in North-West British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo congratulated Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on his recent appointment and insisted that Spain’s action in Gibraltar is simply to seek compliance with legal obligations, but nevertheless called for dialogue.
Spain accused Britain of “unacceptable interference” for launching a diplomatic protest over the actions of a Spanish navy vessel off Gibraltar.
UK Minister for Europe David Lidington welcomed Thursday’s return visit to Gibraltar by the European Commission to review progress towards addressing delays at the Gibraltar-Spain Border. Lidington recently visited Gibraltar to check the situation at the border and incursions by Spanish vessels of the Rock's waters.
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.”
Spanish premier Mariano Rajoy has declared that the latest incursion into Gibraltar waters, that saw London call in his Ambassador on Tuesday, “can be clarified”, and highlighted that Britain and Spain continue to enjoy “excellent relations.” He hoped such incidents will not be repeated but admitted that Spain and UK have long held opposing positions on the question of Gibraltar.
Royal Navy has sent additional personnel to Gibraltar to strengthen its Gibraltar Squadron in response to Spanish maritime incursions into British territorial waters.