Gibraltar. Photograph by Joe Vinent
The British government is examining their legal options for taking action against Spain over the recent imposition of additional border checks and fees for those entering Gibraltar.
A Downing Street spokesman has said that prime minister David Cameron was disappointed with the failure of Spain to make any move towards removing the border checks over the weekend. Cameron is now reportedly considering “unprecedented” legal action through the EU, and the Spanish are considering referring the dispute to the UN Security Council.
The Spanish government has said that they might look for the support of the Argentinian government in any Security Council discussions, as they see many similarities with the Argentinian dispute over the Falkland Islands.
This news comes as a “long planned” Royal Navy task-force sets sail on a route which includes a stop at the small island situated just off the Spanish coast. The task-force includes HMS Bulwark, HMS Illustrious, HMS Montrose and HMS Westminster, with one of the war ships expected to visit the Spanish naval base of Rota, located near the Strait of Gibraltar.
The Spanish foreign ministry has agreed that the naval deployment is routine and expected, with the UK previously gaining permission from the Spanish to stop over at Rota. However, the arrival of British military ships in the area will likely do little to calm the situation between the two governments.
