eli5 Why is Gibraltar a British Overseas Territory? What does this mean… Isn’t it a country by itself on the map?

Question

eli5 Why is Gibraltar a British Overseas Territory? What does this mean… Isn’t it a country by itself on the map?

In: 0

Answer 1

The British captured Gibraltar for it’s strategic value located at the mouth of the Mediterranean to help them maintain naval dominance.

While it may look like it appears on the map as it’s own country, it is a territory of the UK. It does have some autonomy, but it is protected by the British, governed by British law, and people there are British nationals.