Neil Beynon: What lies in the west and east of the Mediterranean Sea?
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Neil Beynon
In this article Neil Beynon considers the legal status of Gibraltar and the British Sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia on the Island of Cyprus, drawing some tentative conclusions on their current importance to the UK and what their futures may hold.
“Gibraltar is a British overseas territory. The territory was seized by Britain from Spain on 4th August 1704. At that time, an Anglo Dutch naval force took control of Gibraltar on behalf of the Archduke of Austria, Charles, who was attempting to become king of Spain. The then population in the main left the rock and most settled nearby.
“Gibraltar has ancient Spanish roots having been granted a coat of arms from Isabella I of Castile in 1501. The Coat of Arms remains the one in current use. In order to ensure Britain’s withdrawal from the military campaign in Great Britain and Spain signed the Treaty of Utrecht (2nd and 13th July 1713). Formally the Peaceand Friendship Treaty of Utrecht Article X made over from Spain to Britain the ports of Gibraltar and Minorca now of course a long time part of Spain.”
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