Editing Foreign relations of Spain (section)

==== With Great Britain ====
{{Main|Status of Gibraltar}}Ever since it was [[Capture of Gibraltar|captured in 1704 by Anglo-Dutch forces]] during the War of the Spanish Succession, Gibraltar has been the subject of a dispute between Britain and Spain. Situated at the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula, overseeing the [[Strait of Gibraltar]] which connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea, the territory has great strategic importance. Today, Gibraltar is a [[British Overseas Territories|British Overseas Territory]] and houses an important base for the British Armed Forces.<ref>Gareth Stockey, and Chris Grocott, ''Gibraltar: A Modern History'' (U of Wales Press, 2012).</ref>
Then a Spanish town, it was conquered during the [[War of the Spanish Succession]] on behalf of [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Archduke Charles]], pretender to the Spanish throne.
The legal situation concerning Gibraltar was settled in 1713 by the [[Treaty of Utrecht]], in which Spain ceded the territory in perpetuity to the British Crown<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgar.net/docs/utrech.htm|title=Tratado de Utrecht – Gibraltar (Spanish)|access-date=9 August 2008|publisher=mgar.net|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510153042/http://www.mgar.net/docs/utrech.htm|archive-date=10 May 2008}}</ref> stating that, should the British abandon this post, it would be offered to Spain first. Since the 1940s Spain has called for the return of Gibraltar. The overwhelming majority of [[Gibraltarians]] strongly oppose this, along with any proposal of shared sovereignty.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2400673.stm
|title = Q&A: Gibraltar's referendum
|work = BBC News
|date = 8 November 2002
|access-date = 19 February 2010
|url-status=live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070314053520/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2400673.stm
|archive-date = 14 March 2007
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref> UN resolutions call on the United Kingdom and Spain to reach an agreement over the status of Gibraltar.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/218/33/IMG/NR021833.pdf?OpenElement
|title = Resolution 2070: Question of Gibraltar
|date = 16 December 1965
|format = PDF
|publisher = United Nations
|access-date = 19 February 2010
|url-status=dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110503183726/http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/218/33/IMG/NR021833.pdf?OpenElement
|archive-date = 3 May 2011
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/005/34/IMG/NR000534.pdf?OpenElement
|title=Resolution 2231: Question of Gibraltar
|date=20 December 1966
|format=PDF
|publisher=United Nations
|access-date=19 February 2010
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503183729/http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/005/34/IMG/NR000534.pdf?OpenElement
|archive-date=3 May 2011
}}</ref>
[[File:Gibraltar 10000m.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view showing the [[Rock of Gibraltar]], the [[isthmus of Gibraltar]] and the [[Bay of Gibraltar]]]]
The Spanish claim makes a distinction between the [[Disputed status of the isthmus between Gibraltar and Spain|isthmus]] that connects the Rock to the Spanish mainland on the one hand, and the Rock and city of Gibraltar on the other. While the Rock and city were ceded by the Treaty of Utrecht, Spain asserts that the "occupation of the isthmus is illegal and against the principles of [[International law|International Law]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Embajadas/Londres/es/MenuPpal/Gibraltar/Documents/000.001.002.003%20Título.%20Prefacio.Índice.%20Informe%20(27.02.08).doc|title=La cuestión de Gibraltar|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain|date=January 2008|access-date=3 January 2010|language=es|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529192351/http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Embajadas/Londres/es/MenuPpal/Gibraltar/Documents/000.001.002.003%20T%C3%ADtulo.%20Prefacio.%C3%8Dndice.%20Informe%20%2827.02.08%29.doc|archive-date=29 May 2009 }}</ref> The United Kingdom relies on ''de facto'' arguments of possession by [[prescription (sovereignty transfer)|prescription]] in relation to the isthmus,<ref>{{cite book|title=Gibraltar: British or Spanish?|author=Gold, Peter |publisher=Routledge|year=2005|isbn=978-0-415-34795-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u9YH_fLPu1MC|page=4}}</ref> as there has been "continuous possession [of the isthmus] over a long period".<ref>{{cite web|author=UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|year=1999|url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/OT13.pdf|title=Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories. Appendix 1: Profiles for Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands & Gibraltar|work=Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories|access-date=19 December 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051213211855/http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/OT13.pdf|archive-date=13 December 2005}}</ref>