[Mordisquitos]

> So you're familiar with the Guarda Civil's regular incursions into Gibraltar waters

The primary bone of contention regarding that is whether Gibraltar has its own territorial waters or not. In summary, Spain argues that the Treaty of Utrecht only ceded the land of Gibraltar and not any rights to the waters: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_of_Gibraltar#Territoria...

[detritus]

Given the Convention of the High Seas was only formalised in 1958 - 245 years after the Treaty of Utrecht - that seems like a bit of a curious drum for Spain to keep banging. A not unsurprising drum, but .. well, Spain.

To be clear - I love Spain and its inhabitants - my folks live there to this day, near Gibraltar. I dislike my own government and I dislike the Spanish government, the latter of which I was subject to many petulant irritations when I lived in Gibraltar. There are no winners there.

The stupid thing is - prior to my moving to Britain at the end of the 90s, I honestly thought that relations were warming to the point where it was not inconceivable that Gibraltar's status with Spain might change favourably. Perhaps even joint sovereignty, or something.

Actions by the Spanish government have since nixed any such good nature and things are as bad as they were during the border closure years. They don't do themselves any favours.

- ed: oh, I should've clicked your link! Yes, that is a better reference than my likely-unrelated CotHS.