Brexit Impact on Falklands and Gibraltar

Shockwaves have rippled across Europe after Britain voted to leave the EU in its historic referendum. “Spain’s Government on Friday called for joint control of Gibraltar after the British people voted to leave the EU” (Daily Express, June 27, 2016). Many UK residents in Gibraltar are wary of Spain’s next move, “Experience has shown that Spain would take advantage of any such renegotiation in order to further undermine, isolate and exclude Gibraltar from the European mainstream… Spain could ruthlessly cut off and isolate Gibraltar… successive Spanish governments had often used border checks and delays to ‘chokehold Gibraltar’s economy and slow down its tourism industry’” (ibid.). Spain’s Foreign Minister stated, “The Spanish flag on the Rock is much closer than before” (BBC, June 24, 2016). Gibraltar has been a “British territory since 1713 but Spain continues to claim sovereignty over the enclave” (ibid.). Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri stated, “that his country’s claim” of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands “remains unchanged following Britain’s vote to leave the EU” (TheJournal.ie, July 5, 2016).

Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands are two remaining sea gates under British control. God promised Abraham’s descendants they would “possess the gate of their enemies” (Genesis 22:17; 24:60). Moses warned the Israelites (including future Britain) that if they despised the laws of God “your enemy shall distress you at all your gates” (Deuteronomy 28:15, 55-57). As Britain moves away from the laws of God, He will continue His removal of these strategic sea gates from its control. For more on this topic, read “Sea Gates in Peril.”