Spain Threatens Hard Border with Gibraltar

Spain has threatened to impose a hard border on Gibraltar unless the UK accepts a new post-Brexit deal that includes the presence of Spanish troops on the territory. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares emphasized that the UK must choose between a restrictive movement system for Gibraltar or a more generous agreement that allows for free movement, which is contingent on Spain's security presence at Gibraltar's airport and port. The proposed deal would integrate Gibraltar into the Schengen area, allowing for easier movement across the border, but recent tensions indicate a consensus remains elusive. Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo rejected the idea of Spanish troops and called for reasonable proposals that would avoid complicating lives for workers and residents. With new EU border controls set to take effect on November 10, Albares urged the UK to finalize the agreement or face stricter entry requirements for Gibraltar residents. The ongoing negotiations reflect historical complexities and competing sovereignty claims over the territory since it was ceded to British control in 1713.