who owns gibraltar

The short answer is: Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but Spain disputes this and claims it should belong to Spain.

Who officially “owns” Gibraltar?

• Gibraltar is classified in international law and by the UK as a British Overseas Territory, not part of the UK proper but under British sovereignty.

• Spain maintains an ongoing claim that Gibraltar should be Spanish territory, arguing it forms part of the natural territory of the Iberian Peninsula.

• The United Nations lists Gibraltar as a non‑self‑governing territory; its people have the right to self‑determination, which they have repeatedly used to express a wish to remain under British sovereignty.

So in legal and practical terms, the UK exercises sovereignty and administration, while Spain contests that sovereignty.

How did the UK get Gibraltar?

• In 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession, Anglo‑Dutch forces captured Gibraltar from Spain.

• In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht formally ceded Gibraltar “in perpetuity” from the Spanish Crown to the British Crown.

• The treaty specified that Britain received full possession of the town, castle, port, and fortifications, laying the legal basis for British sovereignty.

An illustration: think of Gibraltar as a fortress guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean; controlling it was strategically vital for naval powers, which is why Britain held onto it so tightly.

Why is it controversial today?

• Spain argues that Gibraltar’s land border, surrounding waters, and airspace were not clearly included in the original cession and that the territory should be returned, especially given decolonisation principles.

• The UK and the elected Government of Gibraltar argue that the Treaty of Utrecht and subsequent practice confirm British sovereignty and that the wishes of Gibraltarians must be decisive.

• Tensions occasionally flare over border controls, fishing rights, and jurisdiction in surrounding waters, though all sides generally try to manage disputes diplomatically.

What do the people of Gibraltar want?

• Referendums in Gibraltar have shown overwhelming majorities in favour of remaining under British sovereignty rather than transferring to Spain or sharing sovereignty.

• In the early 2000s, a proposed UK‑Spain shared‑sovereignty arrangement was rejected by about 99% of voters in Gibraltar.

• Gibraltar also approved a modernised constitution in 2006 that expanded self‑government while keeping the UK responsible mainly for defence and foreign affairs.

In practical everyday terms, Gibraltar governs its own internal affairs, but ultimate sovereignty and external representation rest with the UK, against a backdrop of a long‑running Spanish claim.

TL;DR: Gibraltar is governed as a British Overseas Territory under UK sovereignty, acquired from Spain by conquest in 1704 and ceded by treaty in 1713, but Spain still disputes this and claims the territory, while Gibraltarians overwhelmingly choose to remain British.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.