are anEUandNATO partner,” and Spainenjoyed“agoodrelationship(…)They man downplayedtheincident,affirmingthatBritain ed bya4%margininfavourofLeave,albeitwiththe itself at odds with the majority of UK voters who vot- share landborderswithEUMemberStates,found alongside thesovereignbasesofCyprus,which Overseas Territory, oneoftwointheMediterranean, dum of2016,butthistimetheself-governingBritish mously (96%)infavourofRemaintheEUreferen- years later,Gibraltarvotedonceagainnearunani- ject shared British-Spanish sovereignty. Fourteen the Rock which saw nearly 99% of re- tions came in the wake of the 2002 referendum on 1 ber State.” State’s territory is commemorated by another Mem- the militaryoccupationofpartanEUMember turns outtobeverystrangethatinthis21stcentury, towards Madrid’ssovereignclaiminbluntterms:“It Foreign SecretaryobjectedtoLondon’sinsensitivity over Gibraltarinthesummerof2004,Spanish attended thetercentenarycelebrationsofBritishrule When thethen UK MinisterofDefence Geoff Hoon (LERMA),Anglophone Aix-en-Provence Laboratoire d’ÉtudesetdeRecherche surleMonde Aix-Marseille University Matthew Graves Post-Brexit Mediterranean The British Presence in the |The Euro-Mediterranean Overview PartnershipGeographical and Actors Other 4 3 2 p. 348. England in the Mediterranean: A Study of the Rise and Influence of British Power within the the within Straits, 1603-1713 Power British of Influence and Rise the of A Study Mediterranean: the in England in system, European the of stability the anteed publications. its to contributor aregular and (OREMA) World English-speaking the in Relations aegis the International of under Observatory the of Mediterranean the in presence British the and Brexit to dedicated cycle aconference of co-convenor is He geopolitics. and The expression of British historian and geostrategist Julian Corbett (cited by Robert Holland) to describe how British naval power guar power naval British how describe to Holland) Robert by (cited Corbett Julian geostrategist and historian British of expression The gf 2004: 4August News, BBC protest.” despite in “Hoon in quoted Moratinos Angel Miguel geohistory in specializing University Aix-Marseille at Society and Culture History, British century 20th-21st of Professor is Graves Matthew 2 Although aDowningStreetspokes- . London: Longmans, Green and Company, 1904, p. 188, 315. 188, p. 1904, Company, and Green Longmans, . London: 1 H oll a nd 3 thecommemora- London: 1880. Penguin, 2013, since Mediterranean the in British The Empire: Blue-Water , Robert. of “TheMidlandSea,” “the keyboardofEurope” fromthesouthernmargins gone erawhenBritishforeignpolicysoughttoplay the Mediterranean,turningclockbacktoaby- pean politicswilldeeplyimpacttheUK’sinfluencein half acentury of British agency incontinental Euro- there is little doubt that turning the page on almost from theStraitsofGibraltarorLevantineSea, would fallshortofsoundinglikeaBritishwithdrawal of the18thcentury, andwhileevenano-dealexit That presencehasbeenuninterruptedsincetheend leaven itsstrategicpresence. with theripariancountriesofsouthernEuropeto now that it can no longer appeal to EU partnership es facingBritishdiplomacyintheMediterranean, fast approaching,Gibraltarepitomizesthechalleng- ment ontheirfuturetradeandsecurityrelationshipis Kingdom andEuropeanUniontoreachanagree- land. Today, asthetransitionperiodforUnited notable divergence of Scotland and Northern Ire- the Trump AdministrationspurnitsNATO allies,with- the crisisinspecialrelationshipwhichhasseen row itsoptionsforlifeoutsidethebloc.Theseare: the as three convergent crises nar- Mediterranean policymorenecessarythaneverfor argument tobemadethatleavingtheEUmakesa between Brussels and London,there is a compelling pend upontheoutcomeofnegotiationsunderway ened circumstances. While future relations still de- 4 thoughnowinmorestrait- -

IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2020 251 Geographical Overview | The EMP and Other Actors IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2020 252 Geographical Overview | The EMP and Other Actors Panorama role, butitisnotforwantofambition. Britain haslostEuropeandisyettofindaworld To reformulateDeanAcheson’sobservation:Great a hardBrexitandCovid-19. the resistanceofitseconomytotwinshocks fully navigateitsdeparturefromtheEUhangson evolutionary than revolutionary and transformational.” p. 4. Paper ject DefendtoreducetheUK’srelianceonimports com/how-to-rebalance-the-uk-levelling-up-in-the-era-of-covid-19/ September 1990, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 599-608. URL: www.jstor.com/stable/2639732 URL: 599-608. pp. 3, No. 33, Vol. 1990, September Asia Pacific, Defence StaffintheMiddleEast,Africa and the Bahrain global powerbyopeningapermanentnavalbasein curity Review, toprojectingBritain’spresenceasa mitted, underthe2015StrategicDefenceandSe- 2016 referendum,theCamerongovernmentcom- 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 omy totakefurthershocks” pandemic has reduced the capacity of the UK econ- Dhingra warns that “the large negative hit from the of the pandemic. The report’sco-author Dr Swati manufacturing sectorthathaveescapedtheworst the UKbyhittinghardestthoseveryindustriesin Brexit willexacerbatetheimpactofrecessionon ernment expenditure.ArecentLSEstudyfindsthat closures, risingunemploymentandballooninggov- decline inGDPthreecenturies,massbusiness down of2020takesitstollwiththemostprecipitous nomic crisisinthemaking,asplanetarylock and theCovid-19pandemic;globaleco- zation precipitatedbyacceleratingglobalwarming ternational rules-basedsystem;thecrisisinglobali- draw intotradeprotectionismandunderminethein- consulted 29 July 2020. July 29 consulted www.lse.ac.uk/News/Latest-news-from-LSE/2020/g-July-20/Brexit-hit-looms-for-industries-that-escaped-worst-of-pandemic URL: 2020. resilient torecession. lands andthedevolvednations,regionsleast turing isconcentratedinEngland’snorthandMid- DExEU, DrPhilipRycroft,pointsoutthatmanufac- residually Malta. Mediterranean waystationsofGibraltar,Cyprusand east ofSuez,” withstrategicimplicationsforthe mons Library, 22 January 2016, 8. p. January 22 Library, mons In In 2018. 5April on opened officially was Bahrain, in Facility Support Naval UK the Juffair, HMS In In In “National Security Capability Review.” HM Government, 2018, 30-33. p. Government, HM Review.” Capability Security “National B

S rin D R t B a e oss roo , April 2013, consulted 29 July 2020. The authors suggest that the UK never really left the Gulf, making the so-called ‘return’ “more “more ‘return’ so-called the making Gulf, the left really never UK the that suggest authors The 2020. July 29 2013, consulted , April ns k

L ley yon f , Matt, “Rebalancing the UK: Levelling-up in the era of COVID-19.” Global Government Forum. URL: URL: Forum. Government Global COVID-19.” of era the in Levelling-up UK: the “Rebalancing , Matt, ield k 8 , Douglas, “Dean Acheson and the ‘Special Relationship’: The West Point Speech of December 1962.” December of Speech Point West The Relationship’: ‘Special the and Acheson “Dean , Douglas, e along withtheestablishmentofnewBritish , Josh and Swati Swati and , Josh - H , Gareth and Saul Saul and , Gareth oll 9 inamovewidelytoutedas“returnto a nd 10 , Louisa and Claire Claire and , Louisa TheJohnsongovernment’sPro- 6 D TheUK’sabilitytosuccess- hingr K elly a 5 , , andtheformerheadof “A Return to East of Suez? UK military deployment to the Gulf.” Gulf.” the to deployment military UK Suez? of East to “A Return “COVID-19 and Brexit: Real-time updates on business performance in the United Kingdom.” LSE, 29 July July 29 LSE, Kingdom.” United the in performance business on updates Real-time Brexit: and “COVID-19 M ills , “The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.” Review.” Security and Defence 2015 Strategic , “The 7 Beforethe - , consulted 29 July 2020. July 29 , consulted Cyprus and Malta dominated its history: Gibraltar, the three strategic nodes that have continue to structured be around Mediterranean post-Brexit will BritishThe deployment in the ship betweentheUKEU.” working topreserve“adeepandspecialpartner- ments toreplacetheEuropeanframework,while sources, andabilateralnetworkoffreetradeagree- state threats,combiningsoftandhardpowerre- of nationalinterestsagainstpotentialstateandnon- security “Fusiondoctrine” foranintegrateddefence solved the SDSR into two strands: a new national commissioned inresponsetotheBrexitvote,re- curity CapabilityReviewofMarch2018,hastily the posture of a “Global Britain.” The National Se- Mediterranean presencepost-EUleansheavilyon petus tothe“pivoteast,” remindingusthatBritain’s face oftheCovid-19pandemichasgivennewim- of medicalandstrategicsuppliesfromChinainthe Valletta continuestobeaportofcallforRoyal Navy Muscat overthe Daphne Caruna Galizia affair. Yet, out longbeforetheresignationofPrimeMinister negotiations betweenLondonandBrusselspetered Union, Malta’sintercessionininitialpost-referendum ing membersoftheCommonwealthinEuropean ry: Gibraltar,CyprusandMalta.Oneoftworemain- three strategic nodes that have dominated its histo- Brexit willcontinuetobestructuredaroundthe The BritishdeploymentintheMediterraneanpost- , consulted 2 August 2020. 2August , consulted Briefing Paper Royal United Services Institute Briefing www.globalgovernmentforum. 11 n° 7462, House of Com of n° 7462, House The Historical Journal The Historical - , , as aconduitforits“GlobalBritain” ambitions. its intentiontoforegroundarevivedCommonwealth devastated byatropicalcyclonein2017,signalled host the25thCHOGMin2018lieuofVanuatu, London’s decision to ment Meeting (CHOGM). entation sincethe2015Valletta HeadsofGovern- come apolicyfocusoftheCommonwealth’sreori- the SmallIslandDevelopingStates,whichhasbe- climate changeandglobalfinancialcrisisamong Excellence, ithasastakeindevelopingresilienceto host totheCommonwealthSmallStatesCentreof in theEUresponsetomigrantcrisis;and,as Africa andtheIndo-Pacific;Maltaisafrontlineactor patrols intransitfromandtotheGulf,Hornof 14 13 12 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. the to due Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, www.mincotur.gob.es/en-us/COVID-19/Paginas/COVID-19.aspx Tourism, and Trade Industry, of Ministry Spanish from SpaininlateJuly. by theUKandGibraltaronreturningholidaymakers was seenasaresponsetothequarantineimposed vessel intoGibraltar’sterritorialwatersinlateJuly head overBrexit:the incursion ofa Spanish naval with the Gibraltarian government have come to a Straits ofGibraltarjustastensionswithSpainand ranean, revivingthestrategicsignificanceof ing theBritishpresenceateachendofMediter- policy acrosstheregionpleadinfavourofmaintain- East and the void left by the retreat of US foreign The resurgenceofRussianinfluenceintheNear solved theissue. the signingofUK-EU withdrawalagreementre- transition period became a sticking point before of EUcitizensresidentonthebasesduring Greek and Turkish Cyprus more remote. The rights of anEU-brokeredagreementonreunification fence cooperation,Brexithasmadetheprospects France in particular, is a continuing feature of de- sharing basefacilitieswithNATO allies,theUSand intelligence gatheringfacilitiesontheisland.While Turkey, have underscored the utility of its GCHQ NATO inSyria,andthechillingofrelationswith just as civil warinLibya,Russia’s challenge to forced bytheongoingconflictsinSyriaandIraq, its newnationalsecuritydoctrinehasbeenrein- relevance oftheUKsovereignbasesonCyprusto In the eastern reaches of the Mediterranean, the According to the 20 the to According The 26th CHOGM due to be held in Rwanda, the Commonwealth’s newest member state, in June 2020 has been postponed indefinitely indefinitely postponed been has 2020 June in state, member newest Commonwealth’s the Rwanda, in held be to due CHOGM 26th The “Impact of COVID-19 in .” Interpretive note for the Industrial Sector on the application of Royal Decree Law 10/2020, of 29 March”, March”, 29 of 10/2020, Law Decree Royal of application the on Sector Industrial the for note Interpretive Spain.” in COVID-19 of “Impact 13 Inthisrespect,thetiming 12

the British at presence each end of favour in plead of maintaining the foreign policy across the region the void by the left retreat of US andinfluence in East the Near resurgenceThe of Russian or the2020pandemic. 2008, theconsequencesof2016referendum bility toexternalshocks,beitthefinancialcrisisof tourist industryinbilateralrelations,anditsvulnera- terranean rimthatpointstotheimportanceof Britons’ favouriteholidaydestinationsontheMedi- impact thatmodel,butitistheBOT’s proximityto ment, anditremainstobeseenhowCovid-19will financial servicesandinvestmentfundmanage- laboratory forthedevelopmentofitse-commerce, braltar washeldup in theCityas a small jurisdiction Rock for Westminster and Whitehall. Pre-Brexit, Gi- both thestrategicandsymbolicimportanceof reinforce the Gibraltar squadron is a statement of of theMoD’sorderfortwonewfastpatrolboatsto million visits annually between them. making upaMediterraneantopfourwithnearly30 with justover7million,followedbyItalyandGreece, visitors in 2019, well aheadof second-place France holidaymakers intheworld,withnearly16million Spain remainstheprincipaldestinationofBritish international tourism depending on the duration of tourismdependingonthedurationof international ployment. TheOECDpredictsa60-80%declinein provides 12.3% of its GDP and 12.7% ofitsem- this strategicsectoroftheSpanisheconomy, which but theCovid-19pandemichasdrasticallycurtailed of thetransitionperiodon31stDecember2020, movement ofpeopleissettocontinueuntiltheend to fullyimpactthatmarketsincethefreedomof Mediterranean , consulted 2 August 2020. 2August , consulted 14 Brexit has yet

IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2020 253 Geographical Overview | The EMP and Other Actors Panorama IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2020 254 Geographical Overview | The EMP and Other Actors Panorama world/2020/aug/02/brexit-fuels-brain-drain-as-skilled-britons-head-to-the-eu to-the-coronavirus-covid-19-6466aa20/ many-uk-citizens-live-other-eu-countries/ low-cost carriers. tic reductionintrafficforairlines,includingamong lockdown andquarantine measures, causingadras- terranean hasbeenthrownintodoubtbysuccessive 15 in theEU,chieflySpain,FranceandItaly. half ofthe1.3millionBritonspermanentlyresident cant expatriatecommunities,accountingforroughly The Mediterraneanrimcountriesalsohavesignifi- community chosenhas to turn its back on the momentvery the United Kingdom and economic at solidarity the coordination political for European created unprecedented an need paradoxically,concurrent has, crises geopoliticalThe fallout from three the crisis. 18 17 16 theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/19/sun-sea-safety-greece-woos-british-pensioners-with-7-income-tax-rate erendum. AccordingtoDanielAuer,co-authorof ing forcontinentalEUcountriessincethe2016ref- mounting evidenceofa“braindrain” ofBritonsleav- have beenslowedbyCovid-19restrictions,thereis izing orgrantingresidencepermitstoexpatriates Whereas thehostcountries’ proceduresfornatural- Quoted in in Quoted “Brits Abroad: how many people from the UK live in other European countries?” Full Fact, 1 Feb 2018: 1Feb https://fullfact.org/europe/how- Fact, Full countries?” European other in live UK the from people many how Abroad: “Brits “Tourism Policy Responses to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).” OECD: www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/tourism-policy-responses- (COVID-19).” OECD: Coronavirus the to Responses Policy “Tourism

S mith , Helena. “Sun, sea, safety: Greece woos Europe’s pensioners with 7% income tax rate.” rate.” tax income 7% with pensioners Europe’s woos Greece safety: sea, “Sun, , Helena. 15 H ThefutureofBritishtourismintheMedi- elm , Toby. “Brexit fuels brain drain as skilled Britons head for the EU.” The EU.” Observer the for head Britons skilled as drain brain fuels , Toby. “Brexit , consulted 2 August 2020. 2August , consulted , consulted 2 August 2020. 2August , consulted 16

pensions of7%. tract Britishretireeswithaflatincometaxrateon ports and dual nationality, Greece has moved to at- through theacquisitionofEUMemberStatepass- pora intheregionissteadilyabsorbedpost-Brexit back onthecommunity. moment theUnitedKingdomhaschosentoturnits coordination andeconomicsolidarityatthevery ated anunprecedentedneedforEuropeanpolitical and intheglobaleconomy–has,paradoxically, cre- international rules-based system, in globalization litical falloutfromthreeconcurrentcrises–inthe post-pandemic nationalreconstruction.Thegeopo- and securityrolewiththebudgetaryimperativesof oncile itsaspirationsforapost-Brexitglobaltrading limit thecapacityofBritishgovernmenttorec- economic crisisdrivenbyCovid-19willtesttothe beyond 31December2020inthe context of the Elgin MarblestoGreece.Maintainingthatpresence the sovereignbasesofCyprus,andreturn rocession of Gibraltar toSpain,theevacuation of ances, longheldinabeyance,revived,fromtheret- parture hasalreadyseenseveraldiplomaticgriev- Mediterranean presence.Since1January, itsde- the EuropeanUnionhasbeenanintegralpartofits Over thepasthalfcentury, theUK’smembershipof economic orpoliticalcrisis.” you wouldexpectwhenacountryishitbymajor “these increases in numbers are of a magnitude that the OxfordinBerlin/WZBBritishmigrationstudy, , consulted 2 August 2020. 2August , consulted 18 , 2 August 2020: www.theguardian.com/ 2020: , 2August The Observer , consulted 28 July 2020. July 28 , consulted 17 AstheBritishdias- , 19 July 2020: 2020: , 19 July www.