VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese public remains reluctant for the country to invest in defence, while still expecting protection from the European Union if needed, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg said during a live debate.
Borg cited survey results indicating that while citizens oppose Malta contributing to EU defence spending, they still want the bloc to defend the country in times of need.
“It is our duty to deliver this wish as much as we can,” Borg said, acknowledging the challenge of balancing public sentiment with international expectations.
The minister added that successive Maltese governments have managed to maintain the country’s neutrality while contributing through humanitarian aid, describing this approach as a delicate but consistent balance.
Pressed on whether other EU countries would accept defending Malta despite its limited defence investment, Borg pointed to past administrations that successfully navigated similar concerns.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
