Britain is sending ten warships to Gibraltar. The ships will stop on their way to the Middle East. Many people think this is bad timing because relations between Britain and Spain have become bad recently. Spain got angry after Gibraltar put concrete blocks in the sea to let sea life grow and to stop Spanish boats fishing. Spain said it might start charging 50 euros (about $67) for people to travel across its border with Gibraltar. Tensions also increased after Spain started searching people at the border as security against terrorism. People waited for up to six hours at the border.

Spain gave Gibraltar to Britain under a 1713 treaty. It is an important base for Britain's navy. Gibraltar is small, measuring just 6.8 square kilometers. It is south of Cadiz. The 430-meter-tall Rock of Gibraltar is in the center. The population is around 30,000 and most of them feel British. A lot of Gibraltar looks like mainland Britain. Spain has argued that Gibraltar should be returned. Britain said this could happen if Gibraltar's people voted for it. The British prime minister told the Spanish leader that this issue risked damaging relations between their countries.