As if to prepare for the likelihood that the talks in London on 13 and 14 January 1987 at Foreign Minister level would produce little progress, the Spanish press noted that—once again—this was not an auspicious time for negotiations to take place. Elections were likely in Britain during the year, and were also scheduled in Gibraltar itself, and elections and concessions to foreign powers do not make good bedfellows. Britain's position on the sovereignty question was seen to have hardened in the light of the comments of the Foreign Office spokesman, John Grant, together with the fact that no response to Spain's specific proposals had been forthcoming.

The ongoing talks on the reduction of the US military presence in Spain (a reduction to which the USA was opposed) and the discussions on establishing Spain's role in NATO (two of whose military commands were established in Gibraltar) were other factors which clouded the issue. It was assumed in Madrid that no progress could be expected on the Gibraltar question until Spain's position on these matters had been clarified. Whilst that was probably true, it was also over-optimistic. For the fundamental difference between Britain and Spain was one of priorities, and these became quite clear when the talks got under way. The meeting on the afternoon of 14 January was described as tough and tense. There was even disagreement as to the nature of the meeting; the Spanish side saw it as a summit meeting on Gibraltar, whereas Britain viewed it as one of a series of meetings to discuss matters of mutual interest, including Gibraltar.