Why Does Britain Own Gibraltar? (Short Animated Documentary)

Summary by Krater

This video explains the historical reasons why Britain came to own Gibraltar and why Spain has been unable to retake it despite numerous wars, sieges, and diplomatic efforts over the centuries.

From the video

Answers: Why does Britain own Gibraltar?

• history of Gibraltar
• War of the Spanish Succession
• Anglo-Spanish relations
• Spanish Civil War
• decolonisation and referendums

What it concludes

• Britain seized Gibraltar in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession to keep the mouth of the Mediterranean open, and Spain officially ceded it in 1713.
• Spain failed to recapture Gibraltar in subsequent wars and sieges because Britain maintained naval supremacy, and Spain prioritized regaining other territories such as Florida and Minorca.
• During a 1967 referendum, over 99% of Gibraltar's population voted to remain under British control rather than become part of Spain.
• Despite ongoing disputes and border closures, Gibraltar remains a British overseas territory because its residents consistently choose to remain British.