THE British government has rejected a request by Gibraltar’s Chief Minister for a greater military presence on the Rock.

During a visit by UK Secretary of Defence Michael Fallon, Fabian Picardo said extra forces would act as a deterrent to Spanish incursions on British waters by Guardia Civil and Spanish navy vessels.

While Picardo sees incursions as a threat to British sovereignty, Fallon said termed them ‘a violation of sovereignty, but not a threat against sovereignty’.

It was agreed that Gibraltar played an important military role as a base in relation to the Middle East and Africa.

The pair also announced that commercial tenders would be invited to resurface Gibraltar airport’s runway, starting next summer. The airport will remain open.

The runaway was resurfaced in 1993 and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) sees the work as a sign of long-term commitment to the Rock.

The MoD has also decided to release and transfer land from its Rosia Bay site – aka Fortress Headquarters – and a block of warehousing at the Naval Base, with the 2011 Lands Agreement scheduled to be updated in 2015 and all changes implemented by 2017.

 

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11 COMMENTS

  1. With Spain being the only nation that provides safety and security in the waters and airspace around the rock, the MOD could save even more British tax payers money by packing their bags and dinghies and going back home.

  2. Ciudadanos. You keep forgetting that the UK offered to go to the ICJ with Spain over the status of the Rock, Isthmus, territorial waters and airspace back in 1969 and Spain declined. As a result of not taking up this generous offer, Spain has acquiesced and no longer has a sovereignty case.

  3. Gibraltar is the home of the people of Gibraltar and not any Spaniards. Maybe Spain should consider to stop wasting Spanish tax payers money on the blockade of Gibraltar. Whilst they are at it they could demand PP kickbacks be paid directly to the Hacienda, with hefty fines and the purpritrators be sent directly to jail for corruption.

  4. Any money spent by the MOD in Gibraltar is British tax payers money down the drain.

    Gibraltarians are more than happy to see British tax payers money spent in Gibraltar because they are not paying for it.

    It is just so much more fun to spend somebody else’s money !!

  5. Oh please Ciudadanos, put the violin “on behalf of British taxpayers” back in its case..

    Gibraltar related costs amount to less than 1% of the overall MOD budget, and most of that cost is related to wider strategic needs which have nothing to do with the direct defence of Gibraltar. Direct defence of Gibraltar is almost a by-product of that spend. That money would be spent anyway and most British taxpayers are quite happy about that.

  6. Why doesn’t Gibraltar declare independence? Since self-determination is an inalienable right of the Gibraltarian people, this option should also be considered. Our nation should not be restricted to two options, i.e. a British Overseas Territory (which I support like virtually all Gibraltarians) or being swallowed up Spain (a nightmare scenario which we will never allow to happen, and which we have made very clear to Spain in the last referendum). But like many Gibraltarians, I would also like the third option of independence.

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