UK Avoided Gibraltar Shipwreck Search to Avoid Angering Spain, Report Claims

The United Kingdom allegedly halted efforts to locate a valuable galleon, believed to contain a treasure of 10 tons of gold coins, in waters near Gibraltar more than two decades ago. The decision was reportedly made to avoid antagonizing the Spanish government, according to a report by The Telegraph. The treasure, estimated to be worth approximately 5 billion pounds (5.9 billion euros), was aboard the British Royal Navy galleon HMS Sussex. The ship sank in 1694 east of Gibraltar while transporting gold from the British Treasury to Victor Amadeo II, Duke of Savoy, for his campaign against Louis XIV of France during the Nine Years' War. American treasure-hunting company Odyssey Marine Exploration conducted a three-year investigation around the year 2000. They concluded that the wreck lay 821 meters below sea level, just east of Gibraltar. This location falls within waters that are subject to a sovereignty dispute between the UK and Spain, as Madrid contends that British control of Gibraltar does not extend to the surrounding waters. According to The Telegraph's investigation, based on leaked diplomatic documents, the British government had an agreement with Odyssey to identify and salvage British shipwrecks, sharing any discovered treasures. However, when the HMS Sussex case reached official channels, a British diplomat in Madrid reportedly advised against pursuing the matter. A declassified diplomatic note from 2007 stated that the Odyssey case posed an "unnecessary threat to the bilateral relations of the two countries" and that efforts should focus on improving relations concerning the sensitive issue of Gibraltar. Further complicating the situation, a confidential U.S. embassy cable from Madrid cited the then-Spanish Minister of Culture, Carmen Calvo, as allegedly saying that Odyssey would only search for the HMS Sussex in Gibraltar's waters "over my dead body." A former member of the Odyssey crew reportedly told The Telegraph that Spanish Guardia Civil officers "terrorized them at every opportunity" with constant harassment when they approached Gibraltar. The wreck of the HMS Sussex is believed to still lie between 3 and 9 miles off Gibraltar, with no further search efforts undertaken.

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poses an unnecessary threat to the bilateral relations of the two countries (when what is needed) is to improve relations between them on the sensitive issue of Gibraltar.