Gibraltar is likely to remain an apple of discord over the next two years of negotiations. For the past three hundred years, Spain and Britain have remained at odds over their individual claims on the Gibraltar rock. Right after the UK Prime Minister Theresa May sent the Brexit letter to the European Council President Donald Tusk; the EU announced that it will stand by the Spain claims on Gibraltar against the UK’s. That support was hit back by the UK with ferocity, with some officials suggesting that the United Kingdom is ready to go to a war over its claim on the rock. Even the ruling government of Gibraltar hit back at the EU for its tactic.

A draft negotiating document shows that the EU and Spain have rather nefarious punishment tactics to bring both the Britain and Gibraltar to its knees, probably as a punishment for the exit. Gibraltar’s Prime Minister Fabian Picardo has expressed his outrage over a Spanish-led Brexit plan to clamp down on the Rock and its economy. In a plan presented to the parliament, Spain aims to clamp down on the Rock’s status as a tax haven. Mr. Picardo warned the Spanish government of retaliation and said those 7000-9000 Spanish workers who come to Gibraltar every day would suffer the consequences.

All actions that were taken, and commentaries made since the official Brexit beginning on March 29th point to the deteriorating relationship between the EU and the rest of the UK.