Britain is scheduled to hold a referendum on June 23 that will allow the people to vote on whether or not to remain in the European Union.

Many policymakers and citizens want to stay, and many want to leave—impassioned arguments pervade both sides of the debate.

A new argument was entered into the calculus last week—from far outside of London: The leadership in the Falkland Islands and in Gibraltar warned that if Britain leaves, it could lose control of both territories.

The leadership in the Falklands and in Gibraltar fear that if Britain pulled out, then Argentina (which claims to be the rightful owner of the Falklands) and Spain (which claims to be the rightful owner of Gibraltar) would both take advantage of what might be a militarily weaker and more isolated Britain.

They fear that Argentina and Spain would ramp up their aggression against Britain and try to pry the Falklands and Gibraltar out of London’s control.

A Brexit would have “wide-ranging and deep implications,” said Sukey Cameron, the Falkland Islands government representative in the United Kingdom. “Were the UK no longer a member of the EU, that support would be much less certain from a large number of those EU member states and might encourage Argentina to be much more aggressive in its approach.”

A spokesman from the government of Gibraltar issued a statement expressing similar sentiments: “In Gibraltar’s case, experience has shown that Spain would take advantage of any such renegotiation in order to further undermine, isolate and exclude Gibraltar from the European mainstream.”

Alarmist?

Some analysts have said that these claims are alarmist, and that they exaggerate the real dangers that would be posed to the Falklands and Gibraltar by a Brexit.

That’s because one of the main military agreements that Britain would rely on to defend its overseas territories—a pact between Britain and France—is not connected to the European Union. The pact exists entirely outside of the EU and basically says France would back Britain in the event of military conflict and would mobilize its aircraft carrier in support of the British.

The way this agreement stands now, it would not be affected by Britain leaving the EU; it is not dependent on Britain’s membership.

But a wide-angle view on this pact shows that Britain leaving the EU could still pose a significant threat to it.

Control of the Mediterranean Sea is of vital importance to EU leadership. The history of World War ii makes plain what a high strategic priority that is. So if modern EU leaders saw Britain leave the EU, they would likely pressure France to renege on the pact so that Europe and Spain could take control of the Gibraltar.

In such a scenario, France would have to choose whether to remain loyal to Britain or to do the bidding of its European partners. And if the geopolitical situation were a turbulent one, France would likely see the EU as the more important entity to be cozy with and loyal to.

Sea Gates

The Falklands and Gibraltar are important to keep a close eye on. Even if Britain does not vote to leave the EU this June, the Trumpet expects the nation to either leave or be kicked out of the bloc sometime soon. And we have also long expected the UK to lose control over the Falklands and Gibraltar.

Clear Bible prophecies said the United Kingdom and the United States would come to control most of the world’s major “sea gates,” and that, after a short time, they would then lose control of those vital strategic ports and sea gates.

Already, the U.S. has basically lost control of the Panama Canal, and Britain has lost control of the Suez Canal, Singapore, its South African ports, Hong Kong, Malta, Sri Lanka, the Gulf of Guinea, much of its influence in Cyprus and more.

So far, however, Britain has held on to the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar. But now, with a Brexit looming, a chain of events could be set in motion that strips Britain of some of its last few remaining vital sea gates.

To understand the details of these clear prophecies, read “Changing of the Guard” from our booklet He Was Right.