Is War Between UK and Spain Imminent Because of Gibraltar?

   The United Kingdom exit as member of the European Union has a far-reaching implications both economically and politically.

One of this is the issue of Gibraltar. Will the control and possession of Gibraltar revert back to the Kingdom of Spain after almost 300 years occupation by the British or would it remains in the hands of the United Kingdom?

Although the land area of Gibraltar is not that big, the same has very important strategic value. It is only 12 miles distance with regards to the north coast of the African continent.

As such it has a military, naval and aerial importance to the United Kingdom. In fact the United Kingdom has military base as well as port and airstrip in Gibraltar.

It has been said that Gibraltarians are mostly British citizens and that they prefer to remain under British sovereignty.

The Spain Claim To Gibraltar

   Gibraltar is part and parcel of the Kingdom of Spain. Although the circumstances under which it became under the control and possession of the United Kingdom for almost 300 years is historically known it does not detract from the fact that Gibraltar is part of Spain.

What if Spain reclaims Gibraltar from the control and possession of the United Kingdom, will the latter just give it easily to Spain? And what will be the effect on this on the Gibraltarians?

What if the United Kingdom does not want to return Gibraltar to the control and possession of Spain, would it result in war? This is reminiscent of the Falklands War in 1982 between the United Kingdom and Argentina.

In that war, the then prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has sent British soldiers to reclaim the Falkland Island from the hands of the invading Argentinian soldiers.

The Falklands Island War has resulted in the death of around 655 Argentinian and around 255 British soldiers.

While the current Prime Minister Theresa May has down played any possibility of war with Spain with regards to the Gibraltar issue but instead opted for diplomatic solutions no one really knows what will happen the moment that the United Kingdom is actually no longer a member of the European Union.

All avenue of diplomacy must be exhausted so that peaceful and lasting solution to the Gibraltar issue might be work upon and a deal finalized for this purpose between Spain and the United Kingdom.

From the side of Spain of course it is but natural that it aspires for the return of Gibraltar in their actual possession and control since it is part of Spain’s self-identity as well as part of their sovereignty.

The Road Ahead For Gibraltar

How the final solution to the issue of Gibraltar will finally play out remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the issue of Gibraltar is a reminder of the past history of Great Britain being once the mistress of the sea and as one of the best naval powers the world has ever seen.

On the part of Spain it’s about time for them to have what are theirs in the first place through a peaceful diplomatic negotiation.