Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1533084
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 MARCH 2025 ANALYSIS at home, rearmament in Brussels Find out more: MODERNISING EDUCATION IN EUROPE NextGenerationEU makes us stronger. Together, we are making sure that young Europeans are ready for the future. With NextGenerationEU, we are improving access to quality education at all levels. ever happen." He did not clarify what compromises he expected Ukraine to make, nor did he set any red lines – unlike the joint declaration signed by the 26 EU mem- ber states, including Malta. This dec- laration reaffirms respect for Ukraine's territorial integrity and calls for secu- rity guarantees, both of which are cru- cial obstacles to the kind of peace that Vladimir Putin and possibly Donald Trump seek to impose. Abela's remarks stood in stark con- trast to the EU's overall stance, espe- cially at a time when Trump's decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine has emboldened Russia. Rather than nego- tiating from a position of weakness, the EU aims to project strength and auton- omy. And yet, on the same day as the sum- mit, Abela declared that he could not agree "with increased investment in weapons to bring an end to the con- flict," even though the declaration he signed just a few hours later commits Europe to rearmament in order to de- fend itself against Russian aggression. No Helsinki moment So why did Abela contradict himself? Clearly, he had no intention of align- ing with Orbán and isolating himself at a crucial moment for the EU. He was well aware of the implications of turn- ing Malta into a pariah. Nor was he willing to risk a con- frontation similar to Dom Mintoff's 1973 Helsinki moment, when Mintoff threatened to veto the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe unless the Mediterranean region was included in security discussions. Unlike Mintoff, who openly chal- lenged the two superpowers of his time, Abela appears unwilling to ruffle feathers. Had he stamped his feet, he risked be- ing seen as a stooge for either Trump or Putin – ironically, the two superpow- ers Mintoff openly defied by threaten- ing to veto proceedings. Wisely, Abela recognised the gravity of the situation and never intended to block an inevitable outcome. Yet de- spite knowing this, he still made prior declarations that contradicted the doc- ument he ended up signing. Playing to the home crowd? Therefore, it is hard to avoid the con- clusion that Abela's statements were aimed at a local audience, likely to ap- pease party loyalists who still view the world through an outdated Cold War perspective. These same voices, ironi- cally, misinterpret Mintoff's concept of "active neutrality" as equidistance be- tween aggressors and defenders. Abela may also be trying to position himself against European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, whom La- bour media often portrays as a pro-war hawk. While Metsola said "it is about damn time" for Europe to dramatically ramp up military spending and aid to war- torn Ukraine, Abela played the 'peace' card. But Abela could be seeking to reas- sure Labour's disoriented grassroots after previously hinting at updating Malta's neutrality policy – a move that surprised and shocked them. Ironical- ly, Abela is now placating this crowd by verbally distancing himself from a European Union which is increasingly squeezed between rival US and Russian imperialisms. CONTINUES NEXT PAGE >