He claimed that Spain had “no legal or political right whatsoever” to demand the return of the territory, which was transferred to England in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht.

“Let’s hope for a change in British policy that will finally allow us to close this sad chapter of colonialism,” said Spain’s UN ambassador, Agustín Santos Maraver, who came second on Yolanda Diaz’s Sumar list.

In response, Picardo emphasized the right to self-determination Gibraltar and warned that the territory “belongs to the people of Gibraltar, period.” He added: “And if someone doesn’t like that, that’s too bad, because that’s not going to change,” stressing that the fight for recognition is intense.

“Our homeland is not a bargaining chip”

“Good luck to those who think they can impose their sovereignty against our will,” Picardo told the UN Decolonization Committee. In his speech, he made it clear that as long as he remains Chief Minister – elections are scheduled for the end of the year and he acknowledged that this could be his last address to the committee – “there will be no concessions to our sovereignty.” He emphasized: “Our homeland is not and is not will never be a bargaining chip at any table.”

“Universal Right to Self-Determination”

Picardo defended his presence on the committee to ensure that the voice of Gibraltarians is not silenced and their rights are not undermined. He stated, “I hope the arc of the universe points to justice, for there is an undeniable truth: the right to self-determination is not a prerogative of the great and powerful.”

He added: “This is a universal right, as it applies to the people of Gibraltar as any other non-self-governing territory under Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter,” stressing that the size of their territory does not determine the legitimacy of their aspirations.

In this regard, Picardo criticized the committee for failing to fulfill its objective of assisting the decolonization of Gibraltar, and urged them to “fulfill their mandate”. He stated, “The worst form of colonialism is to continue to ignore our voice.”