Updated with Darren Carabott’s comments.
Darren Carabott: “The question about Malta’s participation in EUMAM UKR was raised yesterday in Parliament during questions to the PM. On the other hand, the interview with Saviour Balzan on Xtra was pre-recorded on Tuesday 18th. The issue was not yet revealed and not mentioned on Xtra. On Xtra I was asked about other issues related to Security and Defence of Malta and Europe, not EUMAM UKR – obviously, as a Party we shouldn’t shy away from interviews on national tv or any other interview.”
End Comment.
The EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine, which Shadow Home Affairs Minister Darren Carabott mentioned yesterday on Saviour Balzan’s Labour Party propaganda show on the public broadcaster, is a training mission. Malta is not involved in providing weapons or training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Armed Forces of Malta actively participates in foreign training missions with various European countries. Maltese soldiers also have the opportunity to participate in peacekeeping missions on a voluntary basis.
That Malta participates in foreign training missions is not controversial. Also, these are not matters to bring up with Labour Party propagandists on the public broadcaster for the sake of political stunts. Apparently, Darren Carabott wants to make a name of himself as a fool with his repeated media stunts on defence. The Prime Minister also clarified in Parliament that Malta is participating in the EUMAM only in an administrative capacity.
Darren Carabott seems to be a young entrant in politics who is seeking his 15 minute of fame, but toying with defence is not the way. So far, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech has shown maturity and reason over the Prime Minister’s infantile rhetoric. The Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Beppe Fenech Adami also came out very reasonable on defence. Now, the Opposition Leader’s very mature and serious demeanor over the issue risks being compromised by a young, inexperienced and overenthusiastic MP.
Maybe, it would be a good idea for PN to keep the political discourse about defence strictly in the realm of the Leader. Darren Carabott may think he is doing the Nationalist Party a favour with these stunts, but he is only showing a great deal of immaturity. The discussion on Malta’s participation in foreign military training missions should be conducted in parliament, not on propaganda shows.
Website Editor
Historian and Publisher
Leave a Reply