Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542534
IN a flash US special forces swooped in on Venezuela's cap- ital Caracas and kidnapped the country's president, Nicolas Ma- duro. Pre-empted by bombing raids, Maduro's capture was audacious and kicked off a chain of events that has upended an already pre- carious world order. But as the world slowly woke up to the news of Donald Trump's decision to bomb Venezuela, across the Atlantic Ocean and into the Mediterranean Sea, Malta's leaders remained silent. For more than 24 hours there was no official communication. When a statement was demand- ed by the media, it was austere, contained no condemnation and made vague reference to interna- tional law. And it was not a one off. In the days that followed, as Trump upped the ante on his ambition to acquire Greenland from Den- mark—even by military force if necessary—the Maltese Govern- ment remained silent. The question is all too obvious. Is Malta's foreign policy being conditioned by fear of retribu- tion from an increasingly asser- tive and rogue Trump adminis- tration? A well-placed source within the foreign ministry, who was grant- ed anonymity to speak freely about internal matters, provided an insight into the thinking going on at Palazzo Parisio in Valletta's Merchant Street, as Malta navi- gates these complicated times. When the question was put to them, the source replied with another question: "Is it wrong to be tactful and avoid provoking retribution?" While not dismissing the con- cern, the same source empha- sised that Malta's primary moti- vation for exercising prudence is to preserve its image as a "cred- ible interlocutor". Moreover, Malta's soft power is enhanced by the strength of its diversified economy which shields it, to a certain extent, from retribution. Indeed, a Central Bank of Mal- ta (CBM) report last June on new trade tariffs introduced by the Trump administration showed that Malta had limited exposure to the US. Nonetheless, the re- port had concluded that while direct tariff exposure was low, uncertainty and slowing global demand will affect Malta. The CBM projected that GDP growth could experience a cumulative drag reaching 0.4 percentage points by 2027 as a result of the turmoil caused by US tariffs. This limited exposure gives Malta the space to act in a "savvy and prudent" manner, according to the source. "Over the past decades we have set our house in order, and we are not easily threatened by an- yone, but Malta's moves in for- eign policy are noted and have consequences," the source said. "You have to be careful to use the right words… there is a tac- tical element in this approach, even in order to achieve positive outcomes." But does this approach not re- sult in a loss of dignity, ultimate- ly undermining Malta's credibil- ity as a principled nation? Protecting soft power The answer, according to the source, is that speaking too much, all the time, could be counterproductive because it undermines the only soft power Malta has: "Being regarded as a trusted interlocutor and a bridge for dialogue." This strategy did seem to bear fruit during Malta's tenure pre- siding over the UN Security Council, when in 2023 it suc- ceeded in presenting a resolution for humanitarian pauses and corridors during the war in Gaza, which was approved without US opposition. It was the first such resolution in the conflict—a ra- re feat even if its impact on the ground was short-lived and lim- ited. Another spinoff was Malta's role in the OSCE, where Foreign Minister Ian Borg was elected to chair the organisation in 2024 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt 6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 11 JANUARY 2026 NEWS Savvy or Trump-cowed? Malta's foreign Donald Trump's actions in Venezuela and his increasingly belligerent tone towards Denmark over Greenland has upended the world Malta chaired the OSCE in 2024, replacing Estonia after Russia objected to the Baltic state taking the helm of the organisation (Photo: OSCE) The question is all too obvious. Is Malta's foreign policy being conditioned by fear of retribution from an increasingly assertive and rogue Trump administration?