Not the time for gunboat diplomacy

Trivial, because while of significance to the French fishermen affected, the importance of the dispute in financial or absolute terms is minimal and, from the relationship Guernsey currently has with France concerning fishing, could clearly have been handled differently.

Historically, fisheries is a flash-point and Guernsey had its own fish wars back in the 1990s, when up to 40 French vessels came into St Peter Port. It was a tense situation that was negotiated away locally.

Issuing fishing licences with apparently undiscussed conditions attached now seems unnecessarily provocative, especially with Guernsey retaining an interim control regime as a transition measure keeping the peace in these waters.

As Policy & Resources external relations lead Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq said this week, 'clear distinction' between Guernsey and Jersey on the issue of licences offers considerable relief.

With two UK naval vessels standing off St Helier yesterday and France deploying its own gunboat, just who is taking responsibility for the resolution negotiations becomes crucial.

Jersey is talking to representatives from the Normandy and La Manche regions, with apparently limited progress, while at the same time UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is declaring ‘unwavering support’ for Jersey, and there are calls in the French parliament to turn off Jersey’s electricity supply.

Ultimately, the UK government is responsible for defence and international representation of the Crown Dependencies. But while these disputes underline the value of that historic relationship, now is not the time for gunboat diplomacy.

What triggered the conflict is an issue. Guernsey’s external affairs team’s more softly-softly approach appears to have paid dividends.

If lessons can be learned, it demonstrates the value of jaw, jaw over war, war.