Description
The importance of Gibraltar from a geopolitical point of view explains why different states over time have tried to have political control over the region. It is part of an area that is used to surveil the entrance of the Mediterranean, which helps to manage the security agenda of Western countries. When Gibraltar approved its constitution in 1969, Franco reacted closing the border between Gibraltar and Spain and it was only opened in 1985 when Spain was about to join the European Union and after it signed together with the UK the Brussels Agreement in 1984. The UK was willing to veto Spanish membership to the EU if there was not a normalization of relations between Spain and Gibraltar by opening the border. In that agreement also the UK confirmed its willingness to discuss the sovereignty of Gibraltar. Spain since then has tried to explore that possibility many times with the UK but the latter was not interested. However, in 2002 they agreed to offer a referendum in Gibraltar which produced an outcome of 99% of votes in favor of staying under the control of the UK. After 14 years another referendum changed that perspective. Gibraltarians voted to stay in the EU - 96%-. Paradoxically, Spain is now under the umbrella of the EU, the UK is the one negotiating its new status and Gibraltarians clearly want to stay in the EU. Considering how Gibraltarians are linked to the British Navy and the role of the Navy in defending the status quo of states, this outcome, is even more significant. This paper attempts to develop an understanding of the matters that could be opened if the UK avoids an agreement with the EU that does not benefit Gibraltar and consequently it becomes independent from the UK.
