Europe 215
On August 5, 1969, the United Kingdom announced it would hold a military exer-
cise on Gibraltar, including a mock amphibious assault that would be defended by
British marines on the rock. The exercise took place three days later. Spanish planes
and warships maneuvered into Gibraltar to watch the exercise. On September 25, the
British government issued an alert amid reports from Madrid that included provoca-
tive headlines like “Strangle Gibraltar.” Spain cut off its phone and cable service to
Gibraltar on September 30.
At the end of October 1969, Spanish batteries nearly shelled a British civilian
liner, Urganda, on Trafalgar Day. Spain responded that this was part of an exercise
for which the British were given advance warning. The shells were nonexplosive and
practice missiles. By November 30, Spanish ships that had arrived the day earlier in
Gibraltar for an upcoming exercise had left.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from June 26, 1969. Fatalities changed from
Missing.
MID#2598
Dispute Number: 2598
Date(s): March 20, 1986 to March 21, 1986
Participants: 230 Spain/200 United Kingdom
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: The citizens of Gibraltar voted overwhelmingly to remain under British
sovereignty in 1969. Relations between the United Kingdom and Spain has remained
strained since. Although Spain’s border with Gibraltar was completely reopened
upon Spanish accession into the European Community in 1985, tensions increased
temporarily in March 1986. On March 20, the Spanish aircraft carrier Dedalo alleg-
edly crossed into British territorial waters off the coast of Gibraltar and launched two
helicopters into Gibraltar’s airspace the following day.
200 United Kingdom/235 Portugal
MID#137
Dispute Number: 137
Date(s): May 4, 1831 to May 13, 1831
Participants: 200 United Kingdom/235 Portugal
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: From May 4–13, 1831, during the Portuguese Civil War, the British for-
eign secretary sent a warship to the Tagus River in Portugal to help enforce British
claims there.
Coding changes: End Date changed from May 11, 1831.