If any part of Gibraltar’s sovereignty is relinquished, a precedent would be set that Argentina could use to try and claim the Falkland Islands, a historian has warned.
David Abulafia, a historian with a particular interest in the Mediterranean, said that an ongoing row over the ownership of Gibraltar’s airport could have wider implications for British sovereign territories.
His comments come just a week after Javier Milei, President of Argentina, told his country that he plans to return the Falkland Islands to the Argentine administration via a “roadmap” before his tenure in office comes to an end.
The current row that could see the UK lose its grip on Gibraltar focuses on the headland’s airport. The European Union and Spain have recently resumed their longstanding plans to make Gibraltar’s airport a point of access for travellers into southern Spain, which would see it join the Schengen Zone.
Relinquishing Gibraltar’s sovereignty could inspire Argentina to take advantage in the Falkland Islands, a historian has warned
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Some also believe that joint ownership of the airport would negatively impact the UK’s military, as the airstrip is shared between the commercial airport and the RAF base.
Abulafia said that the two above issues, as well as the longstanding question of where the border lies, could leave Britain’s claim to Gibraltar vulnerable.
He said that if the airport were to become jointly shared with Spain, it would increase the Mediterranean country’s influence on The Rock, and thus Gibraltar would become reintegrated with the EU – despite polls showing that the majority of the Gibraltarians overwhelmingly wish to remain British.
Gibraltarian officials have reportedly expressed concerns about the mounting cancellation of British events, after Spain forced a Red Arrows display to be cancelled today, after proclaiming it a “hostile event”.
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Ceding Gibraltar’s sovereignty, even if it is just a part of it, could set a precedent that Argentina could take advantage of in the Falklands, Abulafia claims
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A leaked cable reportedly claimed that Governor of Gibraltar, Vice Admiral Sir David Steel, was “conscious” that several events in recent years had been “turned off” in order to appease the Spanish.
“Its distinctive identity and its deep loyalty to Britain must not be allowed to be tampered with for any reason. Its significance far outweighs its size,” Abulafia wrote in The Telegraph.
Abulafia said that ceding Gibraltar’s sovereignty, even if it is just a part of it, could set a precedent that Argentina could take advantage of.
“Other countries might look at other British Overseas Territories – such as the Falklands Islands – and request a similar relationship to that Spain has with Gibraltar. If ever agreed, that could mean Argentina sharing parts of British sovereign territory,” he wrote.
Last week, speaking in Buenos Aires, Milei said he wanted to reiterate Argentina’s “unwavering claim” for the South Atlantic islands.
Milei told his country that he plans to return the Falkland Islands to the Argentine administration before the end of his tenure
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The speech fell on “Malvinas Day” – what Argentina and much of the Spanish-speaking world calls the Falklands – commemorating the 42nd anniversary of the start of the war – the day Argentine forces invaded the islands.
Milei said: “I want to reiterate our unwavering claim for the islands, and I commit that during our government we will have a clear roadmap so that the Malvinas return to Argentine hands.
He added the “best tribute” to Argentina’s dead in the war would be to “defend the unwavering claim for Argentine sovereignty” over the archipelago.
The president continued: “But a real and sincere claim, not mere words in international forums with no impact on reality and that only serve the politician in power to impose a false love for the country.”
During a visit to the archipelago in February this year, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the UK would “protect and defend” the Falklands for as long as they “want to be part of the UK family”.
He said: “We will support them, and back them and help protect and defend them, absolutely, as far as I’m concerned, for as long as they want. And I hope that’s for a very, very long time, possibly forever.”
