Gibraltar’s 5-word message as Brexit deal with EU on brink | World | News
Gibraltar issued on Tuesday a powerful and defiant statement just hours before its National Day.
Chief Minister Fabian Picardo sent a clear message to both the European Union and Spain as he said: “Gibraltar is not for sale.”
As negotiations over Gibraltar’s post-Brexit status remain unresolved, Picardo reinforced the Rock’s unwavering stance on its sovereignty and future.
Addressing Gibraltarians in his capacity as leader of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP), Picardo added: “We will not be timid in the face of threats, but will respond to harassment with a strengthened resolve to do the right thing.”
His comments, reported by the Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), come as tensions rise over the so-called “Gibrexit” deal, which has yet to be finalised despite years of negotiations since the UK left the EU.
Picardo was unequivocal in his message, as he also said: “Gibraltar will not blink.”
He added that, although the ongoing dispute over Gibraltar’s future may lead to more bureaucratic hurdles for its residents, the territory’s commitment to maintaining its British sovereignty remains firm.
“The border will not close,” he said, “but Gibraltar residents will need to go through a more time-consuming and bureaucratic process to go in and come back out.”
Reflecting on the historical resilience of the Gibraltarian people, Picardo compared today’s challenges to the 1967 sovereignty referendum, when Gibraltarians overwhelmingly voted to remain a British territory, despite the worsening situation with Spain at the time.
“In 1967, we knew things were going to get worse, but we stood firm,” Picardo said. “And just as we stood up for our principles then, we stand up for them now.” Sovereignty, he stressed, is non-negotiable.
“The question of sovereignty is paramount,” Picardo said, adding that “the symbols, ingredients, and attributes of sovereignty matter too.”
He also hinted that the current negotiations may soon require Gibraltarians to “buckle in for a different kind of ride,” as the future may hold more complications and challenges than the territory is used to.
Gibraltar, though geographically small, holds a significant place in the post-Brexit discussions between the UK and the EU.
The territory has long been a point of contention, particularly with Spain, which claims sovereignty over the Rock.
In light of the Brexit vote, Gibraltar, like the rest of the UK, exited the EU. However, it faces unique challenges as a British Overseas Territory bordering the European bloc.
Picardo made it clear that Gibraltar will continue to move forward alongside the UK, whose decision to leave the EU he acknowledged as the cause of the current predicament.
However, he also hinted at the potential for forging new alliances with other nations as Gibraltar navigates this uncertain future.
