The dispute between Spain and the UK is escalating over border issues involving Gibraltar. Differences over fishing rights caused Spain to suggest that it could charge a fee of €50 on every vehicle entering or leaving the territory of Gibraltar, which continues as a British colony.
Spain has also gone to the length of suggesting that it would collaborate with Argentina to form a “united front” on Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands. However, a spokesman from Number 10 Downing St. told the media, “Our position on sovereignty vis-a-vis Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands hasn’t changed and isn’t going to change.”
Coincidentally, a helicopter carrier of the British Navy, the HMS illustrious has sailed from Portsmouth to enter the Mediterranean via Spanish waters for a “training exercise.”
Also coincidentally, and following a long-planned mission of the UK Ministry of Defence, the frigate HMS Westminster will be sailing from Portsmouth on Tuesday, and will visit Gibraltar before joining up with other vessels in the Mediterranean.
Following Spain failing to do away with additional border checks and long queues on its border with Gibraltar, a spokesman from the Downing Street said that UK is considering the “unprecedented step” of taking legal action against Spain. He said, “The Prime Minister is disappointed by the failure of Spain to remove the additional border checks this weekend. We are now considering what legal action is open to us …”
On the other hand, Spain has already declared that it might take the dispute to the UN Security Council, and that Argentina will be joining it to bring up both the Gibraltar and Falkland Islands issues.
The director general for foreign affairs at Spain’s foreign ministry, Ignacio Ibanez told the media that Spain was not worried over UK’s threats of legal action. He said, “We are not worried because we are convinced about what we are doing and we know the right is on our side.”