"Royal Navy Escorts Spanish Patrol Boat Away From Gibraltar" Topic

The Royal Navy has escorted a Spanish patrol boat out of British Gibraltar territorial waters, as tensions rise over the overseas territory.

A spokesman for the Gibraltar government said there was no immediate cause for concern aside from the fact that the Spanish ship was there without permission.

He also added that this sort of incident happens "3 or 4 times a year."…

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So who has the larger Navy now? Not that is matters since Spain shares a land border.

We still have the 'Nelson Touch' unless we haven't paid the maintenance fees for that either.

Routinely happens as the article says.

The Royal Marines invaded Spain back in 2002 when they landed at the town next to Gib by mistake.

If it comes to the crunch we've still got the drum…

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Problem is that Spain says Gibraltar has no territorial waters as they're no mentioned in the Treaty of Utrecht.

This is, however,only because the concept came into being after 1714…..

But it is indicative of the prevailing attitude of Spanish officialdom.

Yep – Bangorstu has it right. The waters are 'disputed' as UK claims they belong to Gibraltar, Spain doesn't recognise that, so as far as they are concerned, they are perfectly at liberty to enter/transit. Not quite as black and white as reported in much of the UK press.

It didn't help that recently RN vessels turned back Spanish police in hot pursuit of smugglers.

It is black and white ebcause the Spanish position is Gibraltar is the only territory in the world without territorial waters…

Spanish police don not have the right to enter Gibraltarian waters. They could of course have asked the local police to intercept the smugglers…

So Spain doesn't have the right to enter territorial waters Gibraltar doesn't in fact have?

I can see where the confusion comes in.

Distraction politics I think. We can expect a lot more of the same.

@Willucv: Spain claims that Gibraltar doesn't have territorial waters because the idea didn't even exist when the treaty giving Gibraltar to the Brits was signed.

Every other island has territorial waters, and every other nation (even the Russians!) grants Gibraltar territorial waters.

Gibraltar isn't an island its part of the Spanish land mass.

The dispute has been going on for ever, though it was put on hold when Spain joined the EU. Now the UK is leaving the EU and unfinished business is back on the table.

Gibraltar's economy is reliant on money laundering, tax evasion and smuggling. To do these things efficiently it needs to be both British and part of the EU. Hence pretty much all its residents want to be both. Now they might have to choose and whichever they choose they will loose out.

That's the dilemma for them. The rest is just distraction politics.

A picture tells a thousand stories, or something like that.

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Those poor Spanish: it'd be the Speedy & Gamo all over:

Bill

I hope you read this answer. If you want to dawghouse me afterwards or ban me forever I don't care, but I must say it: you are behaving like a troll. This thread is just a clickbait to create and promote the spirit of warmongering.

It is disgusting.

I will visit London in April 21st, for Salute. I will go with my 21 y.o son. I was looking forward to that visit. Now? Not so sure. Reading British TMPrs glee at violence and war against my country I feel fear that some hears me speaking Spanish and decides that he must give a hit for the honour of good old England.

I am of two minds. I am starting to think I won't be safe in Britain; that we are not welcomed. Maybe I should cancel my trip, but then I would lost the money I have already paid and my son would be dissapointed. Dunno what to do, really. First time in my whole life I have felt unsafe at the prospective of visiting an European country.

Basilieus, come on over, you'll be fine.

Nobody in UK hates the Spanish people, far from it.

We're just a bit pi$$Ed off that the EU politicos want to use Gib as a bargaining chip and want to sting us 50bn at the same time.

Who do you think has been bank rolling the EU for the last 30 years? We Brits have and we're not paying any more.

So come over, roll some dice, get some figures and have a good time.

B

Reading British TMPrs glee at violence and war against my country

Antonio: you do understand that the Age of Sail painting I posted was a joke? I'm certainly not advocating the HMS Victory be re-armed & sent over to Trafalgar to teach the Spanish a lesson (NB also a joke).

I think you may be over reacting a tad.

Just a tad!

Maybe you are right and I am overreacting… but, guys, come on! Look at it from my perspective! It's like nobody is listening anymore. We only see what our media wants us to see.

Antonio, this topic is verging on politics. You may be a nice guy (I think you are) but it doesn't mean we'll agree on politics. It also doesn't mean I want to "bash" you!

But on to advice on How to Survive the Dangers of the UK:

1. Don't wear a Rangers shirt in parts of Glasgow (ditto for Celtic strip in different parts of Glasgow).

2. Don't stop on the escalators at the Tube stations in peak hour. You'll be trampled to death.

3……feel free to add others

Trust me Basileus, you will be made welcome here in London, Nobody is going around berating or attacking Spanish people, you won't get a second glance, just another tourist..in fact, the chances are a lot of the people you will come into contact with will also be tourists.
The Gib issue is a big deal in the media, and not anywhere else.
However, Ochoin is correct about the tube escaltors…and I'm afraid I have to confess I'd be one of the first to elbow you out of the way… sorry )

Thank guys… I appreciate the advice about the Tube! :)

PS: It's not an excuse, but yesterday I wasn't in my best day. A long fight with the Spanish IRS that has ended with me paying 2,500 euros in additional taxes because the accountant didn't do her bloody job as she should have!

You don't need that. The UK is as friendly and welcoming to foreigners as anywhere in the world, I should know, I'm married to one.

warmongering on a wargames website?!?! shocking

I think the issue is that whenever anything like this happens we treat it as a scenario generator…

Nothing meant by it. :)

The Infanta Christina is an attractive ship.