Spanish authorities have expelled four British servicemen from Gibraltar after confirming they entered Spain irregularly, presenting themselves as tourists. The incident follows a week of high-speed naval maneuvers around the rock, with blank-fire shots that Madrid views as provocative. The events come amid a broader, long-running dispute over sovereignty and control around the territory.
These facts, first reported by Europa Sur and later confirmed by El Periódico de España, involve four British military personnel. They arrived in Gibraltar aboard a civil flight and held return tickets to Gibraltar, giving them cover to travel as tourists. They stayed at a four-star hotel in La Línea de la Concepción, the Spanish city next to the border fencing that separates Gibraltar from mainland Spain. This detail underscores how some service members have previously sought to blend in with civilian travelers when moving between the two sides of the border.
Two of the soldiers attempted to return to Gibraltar at night. When Spanish police questioned them about their purpose for entering, they claimed to be there for work and presented military documents. That is when officers detected that the entry did not meet the Schengen border rules applicable to non-EU nationals trying to enter the European Union. Authorities then asked the remaining two at the hotel to come forward, gather their belongings, and accompany their colleagues back to Gibraltar. Official sources note that it is not uncommon for service members to seek accommodation in Spain while concealing their official status. [Citation: Officials, corroborated by regional media]
Negotiations about Gibraltar
The European Union and the United Kingdom are nearing the start of the 18th round of negotiations on a Gibraltar Treaty. The talks aim to define how the British territory fits within the Schengen freedom of movement framework, in line with the 2020 agreement reached between London and Madrid. The goal is to create a shared prosperity area that allows the smooth movement of people and goods. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has described the effort as a step toward removing the fencing that separates the territory from Spain, while setting aside sovereignty claims for the moment.
To achieve this, it would be necessary to install appropriate checks at the port and airport, owned by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force respectively, but with civilian dual-use rights. Yet several issues remain unresolved, including the shared use of Gibraltar Airport and the oversight of soldiers and military equipment stationed on the Rock. [Citation: EU and UK negotiators]
The British Ministry of Defence reports that 952 people are employed in Gibraltar, of whom 528 are civilians. These include 235 in the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, 28 in the Royal Gibraltar Naval Branch, 16 in the Royal Air Force Gibraltar, and 145 in the headquarters of British Forces Gibraltar, according to the British government. Additionally, British forces regularly visit Gibraltar by ships (79 in 2022) or aircraft (117 in 2022). This implies an annual temporary presence of between 12,000 and 14,000 Royal Navy and British Army personnel on the Rock. [Citation: UK MoD data]