Spain and Argentina ‘pact over Gibraltar and Falklands as tensions with Britain increase
SPAIN is considering a new Falklands pact with Argentina as tension with Britain over Gibraltar escalates.
Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo will travel to Buenos Aires next month to discuss a joint diplomatic offensive over the disputed territories.
Spain has blown hot and cold about supporting Argentina’s long-standing claim to the Falklands.
Jesus Gracia, Madrid’s secretary of state for Ibero-America, insisted last year during a visit to Argentina that Spain backed its claim.
But Spain described a dispute between Britain and Argentina over oil exploration off the Falklands as a “bilateral issue” when tempers flared two years ago.
Spain’s relationship with Argentina took a battering when its president Cristina Kirchner nationalised oil company YPF, a subsidiary of Spanish firm Repsol, in April last year.
Respected Spanish daily El Pais said Mr Garcia-Margallo would discuss an alliance in the UN over Gibraltar and the Falklands with Argentine counterpart Hector Timerman at a meeting in Buenos Aires early next month.
Argentina holds the UN Security Council’s rotating presidency this month. Mrs Kirchner seized the opportunity to renew her country’s demand for talks on the sovereignty of the British-ruled Falkland Islands on Tuesday at a high-level meeting.
Yesterday London Mayor Boris Johnson said the Spanish measures at the border were “tantamount to a blockade” as he accused Spanish premier Mariano Rajoy of using the row to distract from Spain’s economic crisis.
With Royal Navy warships due to set sail for the Mediterranean on a scheduled deployment, Mr Johnson said: “Perhaps it really is a coincidence, as the Foreign Office claims.
“Maybe it’s just a fluke that HMS Illustrious is about to bristle into view complete with thousands of Royal Marines and other elite commando units. But I hope not. I hope that one way or another we will shortly prise Spanish hands off the throat of our colony, because what is now taking place is infamous.
“They are now threatening a tax on goods vehicles going to the Rock. That is illegal under EU law, and tantamount to a blockade.
“They must stop it all, and pronto. This is a blatant diversionary tactic by Madrid.”
Downing Street said Spain had agreed to reduce border queues after a phone call last week between David Cameron and Mr Rajoy.
But the queues have continued with waits of up to three hours on Saturday for motorists trying to cross into Spain.