Charlie Smith
THE UK has said it will file a complaint with Spain after its warship ‘illegally’ entered British waters off Gibraltar on Tuesday blaring the national anthem.
Spain’s inflammatory war games were shared in an online video and applauded by Spanish Vice-President of the European Parliament, Ramón Luis Valcárcel.
The Brussels MEP labelled Gibraltarians ‘laughing monkeys’ in an explosive Twitter thread, which he swiftly deleted.
He said: “Strong applause for the patrol boat ‘Infanta Elena’ (P-76) who today has sailed past the Rock of Gibraltar playing her national anthem at full volume.”
Fisherman Nicholas Karnani uploaded the incendiary clip online and was among scores of Gibraltarians to call on the UK Government to ‘defend its people.’
Meanwhile British Ambassador to Spain Simon Manley told EL PAÍS that the UK would send a formal complaint ‘in the next few days.’
“As we always do, we will send in the next few days a diplomatic complaint about the incursion of the ship in those waters,” the diplomat said.
In the video a corvette warship can be seen blasting Spain’s national anthem ‘Marcha Real,’ as it sails freely past the Rock of Gibraltar.
It comes as British nuclear submarine HMS Astute arrived in Gibraltar at the weekend, while last month saw a Royal Navy ship off Gibraltar fire a warning flare at a Spanish Guardia Civil boat.
There has been fresh tension between the UK and Spain since Brexit negotiations reopened the question of Gibraltar’s sovereignty.
With attitudes like this, do you need to ask why the UK voted to leave the EU?
The “monkeys” remark was made by a Spanish MEP. A Spaniard with a row to hoe.
The illegal incursion was not applauded by the EU as a whole but just this sad individual. He actually makes the case for staying in the EU (as Gibraltar wanted) which has afforded Gib protection so far. It is the very promise of a Brexit that makes this goon gloat.