Spanish Warship Ordered Ships to Leave British Waters Near Gibraltar

[Dennis Donovan]

https://gcaptain.com/spanish-warship-ordered-ships-to-leave-british-waters-near-gibraltar/

LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) – A Spanish warship tried to order commercial shipping to leave anchorages in British waters near Gibraltar but was challenged by the British navy and sailed away, Gibraltar said, the latest example of tension over the strategic port as Brexit approaches.

The Spanish ship tried to order ships to leave their anchorages on the eastern side of the Rock, but the ships stayed in position, Gibraltar’s authorities said. After being challenged by the British navy, the Spanish warship then sailed slowly along the coast with its weapons uncovered and manned.

Spanish authorities did not immediately comment on the issue.
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[dewsgirl]

1. This Brexit BS is going to cause so much upheaval

for the UK and surrounding countries. John Oliver did an excellent piece on this last night.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. We're a month away from "hard" Brexit...

...this might just be a ripple for the "WW1" shit to come.

[EX500rider]

2. Spain trying for a Falklands Island 2.0?

UK 149,710 active 81,850 reserves budget $50 billion -nuclear power

Spain 131,911 active 4,770 reserves budget $11 billion

[Blue_true]

5. Did you ever hear.

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it is the fight in the dog. History is full of cases where larger powers were defeated by smaller ones.

But, I really hope that the incident was just a pissing contest related to Brexit and does not get repeated.

BTW, Spain is staying in the EU, as such a fight by it against Great Britain would bring the EU in on Spain's side. Like the OP alluded to, potential WWI stuff.

[denbot]

6. I've operated with both the British and Spanish navies

The Spaniards would be crushed.

[Blue_true]

8. How about if Germany, France and Italy backs Spain?

We are looking at that very scenario.


Hopefully the situation was just an over zealous Spanish captain and that he gets his butt kicked by superiors and get demoted.

[denbot]

11. That might be a fair fight

They are that good.

[EX500rider]

10. Yeah i heard that...

Last edited Tue Feb 19, 2019, 12:47 AM - Edit history (1)

.....and I'd put the Royal Marines & the Royal Navy above anything the Spanish can scrape up.....not to mention the much deeper pool of combat experience and recent military tradition in the UK military. When was Spain last in a real war exactly?

And the EU is not helping if Spain started it. And the UK is in NATO also.

[Volaris]

4. Yeah...and England has a history of not letting it's Navy be fucked with...

Brexit or no, if those are legit British waters, Spain was probably wise to not test them.

[UTUSN]

7. Shouldn't the Armada be blockading Barcelona first?!1 Priorities!1

[Iggo]

9. 1588. (n/t)

[demosincebirth]

12. Spain didn't have have weather forecasters then. If they did, we might be speaking Spanish.

[EX500rider]

14. Spain wouldn't have prevailed anyway.

The original invasion army waiting for transport in Flanders was 30,000, but reduced to 16,000 by disease/desertions...and they planned to cross the Channel in un-armed barges, the Dutch shallow draft navy was out of reach of the deep draft Spanish fleet and would have destroyed the barges before they got anywhere near England.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Armada

[Aristus]

13. Brexit and its demented followers are going to cause a war.

And there's no need for it:

[EX500rider]

15. How is Spain starting shit the fault of Brexit? nt

[Aristus]

16. It's more of a general commentary over the fraying of global political and trade alliances.

I hope it doesn't get worse before it gets better...

[Xolodno]

17. Most don't realize there are still territorial disputes in Europe.

1. Gibraltar - Spain vs. UK.
2. Istanbul/Constantinople - Greece vs. Turkey
4. Cyprus - Greece vs. Tureky
5. Crimea - Russia vs. Ukraine
6. Mont Blanc - Italy vs. France
7. Northern Ireland - Ireland vs. UK.
8. Dollart Bay - Germany vs. Netherlands
etc.

And of course, lets not forget the separatist movements in Spain and UK.