In a military escalation, Spanish sources have accused the British Royal Navy of inflaming tensions with Spain following the announcement of military exercises in Gibraltar and areas that Madrid claims as its sovereignty.
The exercises, scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, will involve fast boats, test firing, and signaling with parachutes. The operation will take place in waters extending from the Port of Gibraltar, through the Europa Point, to the eastern side of the Rock, in waters that the Spanish government considers under its jurisdiction.
Simultaneously with the British drill, a Spanish court is investigating land reclamation activities in Gibraltar based on a ruling from October 14 that cites Spanish sovereignty over the waters and the Utrecht Treaty.
The exercise area is claimed by Gibraltar and the UK as part of their sovereignty, but Spain does not recognize this claim, asserting that the 1713 Utrecht Treaty only ceded the city, port, and its defenses, excluding the surrounding waters.
It is worth noting that a similar exercise previously led the Spanish Foreign Ministry to lodge an official complaint with the UK, expressing its rejection of what it terms incursions that violate its sovereignty. Three weeks later, London disregarded Madrid’s concerns and redeployed its units in the region.
This military escalation occurs amid sensitive negotiations regarding the future of Gibraltar following Brexit, with Spain seeking to assert control over the surrounding waters while the UK maintains its historical rights.
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