Gibraltar dispute and the Falkland islands

Flag of Gibraltar

Regarding the dispute over the British overseas territory, Gibraltar, Spain now escalates the conflict. Spain wants to include Argentina in a “united front” against the United Kingdom and take the matter to the UN Security Council. Argentina is right now a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council – making it easier to  put the matters of Gibraltar on the agenda. And of course, the Falklands.


Flag of the Falklands

My opinion? I think it is a disgrace that those countries (Spain and Argentina) want to opens discussions about the sovereignty of Gibraltar and the Falklands. Gibraltar and the Falkland islands are British Overseas Territories and are therefore under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United Kingdom. But what is most crucial is the fact that the population of Gibraltar and the Falklands several times has voted in favor of the status quo. Actually, in 2002, 98,4 % of the people of Gibraltar voted to remain a British territory and in 2013, 99,8 % of the Falkland Islanders voted the same.

A Margaret Thatcher comment on the Falklands war: I’m standing up for the right of self-determination. I’m standing up for our people. I’m standing up for international law. I’m standing up for all territories – those small territories and peoples the world over – who, if someone doesn’t stand up and say to an invader ´enough, stop´, would be at risk”.