LONDON: London hauled in Madrid’s ambassador yesterday over a “provocative” day-long stand-off in which a Spanish state research vessel defied British navy orders to leave Gibraltar’s territorial waters.
The Ramon Margalef, an oceanographic survey ship, entered the waters off the tiny peninsula on Monday. It ignored repeated requests to withdraw over a period of more than 20 hours, Britain’s Foreign Office said.
The Gibraltar government said the ship came within 250 metres of the entrance to the harbour of the British overseas territory.
A picture released by the British naval base in Gibraltar showed an inflatable Royal Navy fast patrol boat right up against the side of the Ramon Margalef.
“I strongly condemn this provocative incursion and urge the Spanish government to ensure that it is not repeated,” Britain’s Europe Minister David Lidington said. “We stand ready to do whatever is required to protect Gibraltar’s sovereignty, economy and security.”
The minister said that over the past two years, the level of unlawful incursions by Spanish state vessels had surged from five a month to around 40.
The Gibraltar government said the lengthy duration of the stand-off was “something new” and “represents yet another escalation of Spain’s campaign against Gibraltar on land and at sea”.
Diplomatic tensions over Gibraltar have increased rapidly this year, with this latest incursion ratcheting up matters once again.
Gibraltar dropped 70 concrete blocks into the sea in July in what its government said was an attempt to create an artificial reef — but it had the effect of also blocking Spanish fishing boats from operating close to the airport runway.
Spain then introduced stringent border checks in August, leading to lengthy delays for motorists trying to enter the peninsula.
The European Commission said last week that it had found Spain had broken no EU rules by stepping up its border controls.
Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in perpetuity in 1713 but has long argued that it should be returned to Spanish sovereignty.
London says it will never do so against the wishes of Gibraltarians, who are staunchly pro-British.
It is the third time that Britain has publicly summoned Spain’s ambassador over Gibraltar since Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy took office in December 2011.
Lidington said the Ramon Margalef had undertaken “significant surveying activity in British Gibraltar territorial waters on November 18 and 19 for over 20 hours”.
“When challenged by radio, the vessel responded that it was conducting survey work with the permission of the Spanish authorities and in the interests of the European Community.
The minister said: “We believe that it is in the interests of Spain, Gibraltar and Britain to avoid incidents such as this that damage the prospects for establishing dialogue and cooperation.” AFP
