The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is having repercussions and consequences far beyond the borders of both countries. It is no surprise to anyone that geopolitical tensions worldwide have worsened like never before in recent months, and that has caused Western allied countries to have to take action on the matter. Not only in favor of Ukraine, but also looking at its own interests, in distant territories and where it might be thought that the influence of war should not reach.
One of these clear examples can be clearly seen in the foreign policy of the United Kingdom, a country that in August of last year promised Gibraltar that it would invest like never before to make the rock one of the “five global centers” that serve the British country as “springboard” in terms of military coverage, and in the face of possible threats that may occur in the future.
After almost a year and a half, the situation has only worsened, and the United Kingdom is on alert for possible Russian attacks not against its own borders, but against its military bases in areas such as Gibraltar or Cyprus.
For this reason, and given the latest events that have occurred in the conflict, with the launches of hypersonic missiles by Russia in response to the Ukrainian attacks with Western ATACMS missiles (from the US) and the Storm Shadow (from the United Kingdom) , London considers it key to anticipate the multiple scenarios that may open up in the future.
And the reality is that these suspicions are not unfounded, since a few days ago, Putin warned that he had developed a new intermediate-range missile that could be used legitimately against countries that had given Ukraine the green light to use their missiles, including them UK. For this reason, the British Ministry of Defense is analyzing the possibilities and scenarios that may arise regarding its military bases in the two aforementioned territories.
Although these types of measures are usually common, and even routine, on this occasion the United Kingdom’s movements are being more conscientious and intense than on previous occasions, although the British Ministry of Defense assures that there have been no changes “in the general security posture” anywhere it concerns.
But this is in question, since the alert level for a possible attack on the Rock is at an intermediate level. Even more so when in the past the British authorities discovered a Russian spy ship in the Strait of Gibraltar on its way to the Mediterranean.
This, logically, also concerns Spain, so the Spanish Navy has also carried out intense surveillance work with Vigía patrol vessels, carrying out monitoring of Russian units in the Strait.
Missiles with destructive capacity like never before
All of this, as we have mentioned, has a clear basis, and Keir Starmer’s cabinet highlighted Putin’s words a few days ago regarding being able to “turn off the lights of millions of people” with one of these missiles, mainly the Oreshnik, capable of traveling a distance of 5,500 km with a level of cutting-edge technology never seen before, as well as the Kinzhal, considered the jewel in the crown of Russian weapons, capable of attacking at 12,250 km/h, composed of nuclear warheads with up to 3,000 km range.
In short, everything can be summed up with the words of the Chief of the British Defense Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who a few days ago pointed out that “the world has changed”, and that “world power is changing”, and We are facing “a third nuclear age”, and he highlighted that Gibraltar is part of the axis of the anti-Russia strategy like never before.
