The Royal Navy has made manoeuvres in the disputed waters surrounding Gibraltar in the midst of delicate negotiations.
The Royal Navy’s Gibraltar Squadron carried out joint maritime manoeuvres yesterday, Thursday, October 17.
But the operation comes as negotiations between Spain and the United Kingdom over the future of Gibraltar have reached a critical juncture.
The talks relate to the future of Gibraltar in the European Union as three years of talks between the European Union and the United Kingdom have not reached an agreement to regulate, among other issues, the entry of Gibraltar into the Schengen Area.
The maritime exercise involved Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron (RNGS), the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP), Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP) and Customs Gibraltar within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW).
It began with parallel navigation manoeuvres. This is where the lead vessel maintains its course and speed, while another vessel is positioned as close as possible and advances alongside.
Next the vessels carried out lateral approach training. This is a more aggressive manoeuvre used to force another vessel to deviate from its course and interrupt an unwanted activity. On the return to the naval base they carried out an armed boarding exercise.
Lt Cdr Kilby, Commanding Officer of HMS Dagger which was involved in the exercise, said: “This inter-op was a fantastic opportunity for RNGS to build on its existing relationship with RGP, GDP and HMCG,” reports Gibraltar Chronicle.
Lt Cdr Kilby added: “Where we operate within the same waters, carrying out a broad spectrum of roles, it makes perfect sense to operate together.
“These exercises also go a long way to improving our operational capability whilst providing reassurance to Gibraltarians that our presence on the water is significant and government organisations can cooperate effectively if required.”
Planning is now underway for the next exercise, which will see the units carry out more complex serials and look to exploit any opportunities in developing capability.
A Royal Navy Spokesperson told Express.co.uk:“The Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron regularly patrol and complete exercises with our partner forces in British Gibraltar territorial waters.”
Meanwhile, according to Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, who spoke to El País, the negotiations have reached “an irreversible point where we either finalise the agreement, or the British side indicates that they don’t want it.”
“But I insist: what I’ve seen in Lammy is that there is a will to reach it”, he added.
“It’s true that the new entry and exit control system for the Schengen area comes into effect on November 10, and that includes Gibraltar.
“All the more reason to have this agreement as soon as possible.”
Albares stated that Spain remains open to “constructive solutions” that would allow for the free movement of people across the Gibraltar border while still meeting its obligations under the Schengen Agreement.