Relationship dossier
Gibraltar
Spain
Relationship assessment
Spain maintains its sovereignty claim while cooperating with Gibraltar and the United Kingdom on practical issues.
Gibraltar toward Spain
Not assessedGibraltar is a British Overseas Territory; the United Kingdom is responsible for its foreign affairs, so Gibraltar does not conduct an independent foreign policy toward Spain.
Spain toward Gibraltar
-30Spain maintains a sovereignty claim over Gibraltar. Spanish authorities have also participated with the United Kingdom and Gibraltar in practical arrangements, including the 2006 Córdoba agreements on issues such as the airport, pensions and telecommunications.
Overall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory, and the United Kingdom is responsible for its foreign affairs; Gibraltar does not conduct an independent foreign policy toward Spain. Spain maintains a sovereignty claim over Gibraltar, while Spanish, British and Gibraltarian authorities have also pursued practical cooperation, including through the 2006 Córdoba agreements on local issues.
Areas of tension
- Spain's sovereignty claim over Gibraltar.
- Arrangements for movement across the Gibraltar–Spain border, including post-Brexit arrangements.
Key developments
The Córdoba agreements addressed practical issues including Gibraltar's airport, pensions and telecommunications, with participation by Spain, the United Kingdom and Gibraltar.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of practical cooperation between Spanish and Gibraltarian authorities are unclear.
- The final arrangements for Gibraltar's post-Brexit relationship with Spain and the EU are subject to ongoing negotiation.