2. Gibraltar
While Gibraltar may not look like much, it has been highly contested as a territory. Both Spain and the UK have laid claims on Gibraltar. Gibraltar is a small British Overseas Territory that is located on the south end of the Iberian Peninsula. Over 30,000 people live in Gibraltar, and the territory’s only real claim to fame is the fact that it offers access to the strait of Gibraltar for shipping. The small territory has a GDP of £1.64 billion that is based on shipping, tourism, online gambling and financial services.
Gibraltar was captured by an Anglo-Dutch force in 1704 during the War of Spanish Succession. The Treat of Ultrecht was signed in 1713 and it gave Britain control over Gibraltar “in perpetuity.” The British find the small territory useful for its access. During World War II, Gibraltar was home to a very large naval base and it allowed them to control the entrance and exit to the Mediterranean.
Despite the fact that Britain has held a claim on the territory for over 300 years, Spain has continued to claim a right to the territory, despite the treaty. The Spanish have tried to retake Gibraltar through sieges but they have never been successful. In 1967 and 2002 a vote was held within Gibraltar to allow the people to choose whether to remain a British territory or become part of Spain. In both votes 99% of the population chose to remain as part of the UK.
In 2016, Spain made it very clear that if the UK voted to leave the EU that they would make a move on Gibraltar. When the vote was held, the people of Gibraltar overwhelmingly voted to remain in the EU, but the vote ultimately went to leaving. The day after the vote Spain’s foreign minister called for joint control of the peninsula and said the results of the vote made Spanish control of Gibraltar much closer than before.