Oct 06 - Lidington Condemns Spanish State Vessel’s “Dangerous Maneouvering”
An incident yesterday afternoon involving the Spanish state research vessel Ángeles Alvariño is being treated as a “serious incursion” by the Foreign Office.
The vessel entered BGTW off Europa Point and was seen off by the GDP, RGP and Royal Navy. There are unconfirmed reports that the vessel managed to briefly deploy a sonar probe.
The Minister for Europe, David Lidington, earlier called the Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Gonzalo de Benito, to express his “grave concern”.
Mr Lidington said: “The irresponsible actions and dangerous manoeuvring of this vessel were not only unlawful but also presented a significant risk to the safety of Royal Navy personnel at sea. Under no circumstances should Spanish vessels be provoking a situation that could result in serious injury or a fatality.”
The Foreign Office repeated that the waters around Gibraltar are indisputably British and reaffirmed its commitment to take whatever action it considers necessary to “uphold British sovereignty and the interests of Gibraltar, its people, its security and economy.”
A statement concluded: “The British Government takes very seriously any attempt by Spain to exert authority or control within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters and considers such incursions as a violation of UK sovereignty. However, the legal fact of the United Kingdom’s sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters is not affected by such violations.”
