Gibraltar showcases a distinct British mood as a royal spectacle unfolds in anticipation of Charles III’s coronation. Simultaneously, diplomacy among Britain, Spain, and Europe intensifies as talks over Gibraltar’s status within the European Union face significant hurdles. The UK governor urges a negotiating text to be settled before summer, while the British Prime Minister reaches out to Pedro Sánchez to review progress. Both governments acknowledge the deal’s desirability and its urgency, yet tangible changes on the ground remain elusive. Spain’s foreign minister reiterates a familiar stance: Spain has made an offer, and the ball is in England. The Rock’s government prepares contingency plans should no agreement be reached, fearing that La Verja could become a hard border that would complicate transit and economic ties between Gibraltar and Cádiz. Yet the moment is ripe to celebrate the arrival of Carlos.
British Forces in Gibraltar
British forces in Gibraltar, in front of El Convento, the governor’s official residence, held a parade this week. The event was organized by the British Ministry of Defence in Gibraltar at the governor and the prime minister’s request. The government’s central offices remain at Convent Place, and both officials are in the United Kingdom at the king’s invitation to represent Gibraltar at the coronation. In Casemates Square, a large screen will broadcast Carlos III’s coronation this Saturday.
The parade carries strong symbolic weight. It underscores the friction in the talks among London, Brussels, and Madrid mediated through Gibraltar. Among the thousands entering through Gibraltar, identities require verification by Spain as the Schengen guarantor, a factor that could intensify if the border fence is removed.
Convent Place, Gibraltar, May 3 – Coronation of Carlos III in Gibraltar. GOVERNMENT OF GIBRALTAR
In recent reports, between 12,000 and 14,000 British soldiers pass through Gibraltar each year, alongside numerous warships, aircraft, and standing forces. The figures, disclosed on April 24 by the defence secretary in response to parliament, were echoed by News Gibraltar. Additional personnel include a thousand more, including soldiers, civil servants, and contracted civilians assigned to El Peñón.
As previously noted, the Gibraltar Treaty negotiations, which have already seen thirteen rounds, are shadowed by another sensitive military discussion and a lack of progress on the main accord. A military base in Gibraltar holds strategic importance for the British Armed Forces, who prefer not to have Spanish border guards check their documents upon arrival at Royal Navy ports or Royal Air Force airfields.
Convent Place, Gibraltar, May 3 – Coronation of Carlos III in Gibraltar. GOVERNMENT OF GIBRALTAR
Data from 2022 show a steady military footprint: 79 naval vessels carrying 6,000 to 7,000 personnel visited Gibraltar; 117 military aircraft carried 4,000 personnel; and 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers conducted training missions, largely from the Army. The figures were reported in parliamentary questions and subsequent coverage by local outlets.
Diplomatic troubles and political pressure
The diplomatic climate around Gibraltar has felt crowded and tense in recent weeks.
Dominic Raab, the government’s second-in-command and former foreign secretary, left office amid a harassment scandal involving two subordinates. Hugh Elliott, the current British ambassador to Spain, is expected to be excluded from certain Gibraltar talks amid claims he crossed lines from London regarding the entry framework into the European Schengen area.
Technical negotiations among interested parties were accelerated to craft a text that would crystallize the 2020 New Year’s Eve preliminary agreement. London and Madrid have postponed the final frame for Gibraltar within the Peninsula and the broader EU, following Brexit. Two years on, progress remains elusive, feeding nerves on all sides.
A call to Pedro Sánchez on Thursday, initiated at the request of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, signaled a shared desire to move toward a swift resolution on the relationship between the British colony and the European Union after Brexit. According to statements from both governments, there was consensus on the importance of closing an agreement soon.
Convent Place, Gibraltar, May 3 – Coronation of Carlos III in Gibraltar. GOVERNMENT OF GIBRALTAR
Yet the landscape has seen little practical change. Following the call, Spanish minister José Manuel Albares repeated that Spain has submitted its proposal and that the United Kingdom must act. “We can be more optimistic today than before that call,” he said, adding that the ball is in England and that every day without a signed agreement is a missed opportunity to build a shared prosperity zone. He suggested that an agreement would eliminate physical barriers and expand the Schengen area to Gibraltar.
Both the UK and Spain face electoral calendars this year in their respective regions, with Pedro Sánchez due to chair the European Council from July. Analysts note that it would be delicate for Spain to drive a 27-member deal through the EU presidency. David Steel, Gibraltar’s governor, suggested in a local interview that an agreement might come in early summer with Rishi Sunak present.