Furthermore, there appeared to be a lack of cordiality amongst them. When once the apparent roles of Germany and France in setting the European agenda was a constant resentment, now they are openly divided; as France strives to end the endless Brexit negotiations, whilst Germany is happy to prolong them.

Global

Churchill in his day saw Britain’s interests, security and diplomacy as global, not narrowly European. Maybe that’s what he meant when he said the words “We are with Europe but not of it.”

He saw the Commonwealth and the special relationship with the US, as the nation’s two most important strategic priorities. But Theresa May has given no indication as to how she sees the future focus of foreign and security policy.

The most serious and rapidly deployable military forces in the EU are those of Britain and France. Spain may see herself as being on track to become the new third partner in the Franco-German alliance, but although the Spanish have the numbers; they might lack the expertise, plus their reputation at sea begs the question as to whether they are ready to play a leading role, as the UK has done in the Past.

We recall Spain’s modest contribution to the UN –enforced blockade of Iraq and Kuwait, where she had three ships which were not actually in the gulf, plus the government had ruled out their engaging in hostilities.

The same happened in May this year when Spain’s acting Defense Minister, decided to pull out a Spanish frigate of a US –led naval group in the Persian Gulf; an action which angered the American authorities. Spain wants at all costs to avoid being involuntarily dragged in to any kind of conflict. They play at being conquerors, but they are really a nation of pacifists.

The EU itself, as it happens, is not united really. It is suffering from a glut of membership, and with each member state with its own agenda; it makes it difficult for them to present a common front. Times have changed and when once European politics was made up of solid power blocs; this is no longer the case. We have witnessed in global politics where coalitions come together, sometimes for a short space of time, and never long enough to produce positive and long lasting beneficial results.

From what we have witnessed of late with the treatment of Mrs. May and before that of David Cameron, I have come to the realization that whosoever is appointed to be the next UK Prime Minister, it won’t matter anyway. The EU‘s irritation is such, that there seems to be little chance of anything positive happening Brexit wise.

Sovereignty

If truth be told, looking back to the early days when Britain became a member of the EC, the only reason why Edward Heath became the most popular of British Prime Ministers; being awarded the Charlemagne prize in 1963, which translated into a financial award of £1.5 million, so I understand; was because he had gone and signed away Britain’s sovereignty i.e. the worlds richest fishing waters, constituting 300,000 sq miles of natural resource, worth tens of billions of pounds; its exclusive Economic Zone. I have on many occasions highlighted Britain’s fisheries, which go hand in hand with the sovereignty of its waters; something that is akin to us.

Simon Collins, member of the Executive Committee of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation said back in 2017, in an article penned under the title of “Our fish are as sovereign as Gibraltar,” that if the UK was not prepared to discuss claims over an admittedly strategic 3 square miles bordering the Mediterranean, it should also rule out any discussion on claims over the access to its EEZ, which would amount to giving away sovereignty, in the same way as sacrificing Gibraltar.

We still don’t know who the next UK Prime Minister will be, except it looks probable that it will be Boris Johnson, who despite the recent spate of opponents airing his dirty laundry; so to speak; he does appear to have a great deal of backing from many of his peers; plus he appears to be a popular choice amongst many sectors of the community. His diplomatic background does not stop him from speaking his mind, and it would be fair to say he certainly breaks the Whitehall mould.

Refreshing

I find this refreshing; particularly when he has addressed his Spanish counterparts in the past as Foreign Affairs Minister; because he has had the chutzpah to speak to them quite openly and plainly, on matters to do with Gibraltar. We must try and keep alive that sentiment expressed, by who we believe will be appointed the next UK Prime Minister; and already let him know that our aim is not to continue as before.

That we want to draw a line; that we need to close this chapter of insecurity with Spain constantly on our backs. He has to understand that our only saving grace is that of some kind of partnership; because partnership means equality; not asking for favours or having to bend rules. We need some new element to replace what exists to day between us and the UK.

We have asked for representation in Westminster and we need to know if the UK‘s views have changed on this; because now that Sr. Borrell is the Foreign Affairs Minister for Europe, it might all get very sticky indeed!

05-07-19 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR