Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542865
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 28 JANUARY 2026 ANALYSIS is not served on Trump's board er EU members? It may also trigger counter-initiatives by middle powers like Canada, Brazil, and the EU, which could better align with Malta's nation- al interest. 4. Trojan horse Membership in the board could make Malta appear as Trump's Trojan horse within the EU. Malta's EU mem- bership intertwines its foreign policy with collective European decisions. Although the EU has not formally tak- en a unanimous position on the board, only two member states— Hungary and Bulgaria— have joined the Board of Peace. The majori- ty, including influen- tial Western members, prefer the UN frame- work for conflict resolution. The board in- cludes states whose foreign policy positions clash with EU norms. Malta should avoid being caught be- tween the EU's collective security in- terests and unquestioned alignment with US unilateral initiatives—espe- cially when even NATO members are reassessing their relationship with Washington's global strategies. Malta's international influence rests on soft power. It is built on diploma- cy, mediation, and respect for interna- tional law. Joining a board perceived by crit- ics as a potential r i v a l to established multilateral in- stitutions—or one that priori- tises US interests over global con- sensus—could dilute Malta's credibility. It risks shifting Malta's im- age from a bridge-builder to a partisan actor. Crucially, it would raise questions on our po- s i t i o n s within the EU, erod- ing trust and creat- ing a percep- tion that we are acting as a Trojan horse for the US alongside the likes of Viktor Orban's Hungary. 5. The billion-dollar vortex Malta cannot afford $1 billion to ful- ly join this organisation but member- ship could suck the country into the Trump vortex. Permanent member- ship in Trump's board required signif- icant financial contributions, poten- tially upwards of $1 billion—a steep demand for a country of Malta's size. While Malta could opt for tempo- rary membership to appease Trump, even this might bring about political costs—increased pressure to align with US policy and maintain favour with Washington regardless of Malta's interests. Temporary participation would put all of Malta's eggs in one basket, with uncertain future demands from Trump. Financial leverage could also be exploited, as Trump might waive fees in exchange for political conces- sions. In short, Malta could end being sucked up in a vortex whose epicentre is an increasingly unhinged US Presi- dent. 6. Undermining international commitments Malta may be investing in an ephem- eral relationship with Trump which may not survive beyond the next few years but could undermine more long- standing international commitments. Trump is trying to permanently in- stall a new world order, but he is al- ready facing internal pushback over domestic issues and his increasingly authoritarian turn. Thus, Trump's po- litical future—and the board's longev- ity—are far from guaranteed beyond the current political cycle. In attempting to remain in Trump's good books in the short term, Malta risks undermining its commitment to other longstanding, reputable mul- tilateral institutions like the EU and UN. In so doing it may end up being less trusted by major world actors in an increasingly multipolar reality. 7. Unnecessary political tension Domestically, politi- cal tension triggered by this decision is completely unnec- essary and risks turning Trump into an actor in Malta's own political choic- es. Trump has made it clear that he has no qualms in interfering in the domestic affairs of EU member states. Political tension on this issue—not just between the Mal- tese political parties but also within them—is best avoided by politely de- clining or ignoring the invitation, as most EU member states have done. Moreover, this decision has implica- tions that transcend a single legislative cycle and it would be good if parlia- ment has the final say on the matter. However, any such debate could be conditioned by fears of US interfer- ence and retribution. In this sense, Abela would put his own MPs and the Opposition in a difficult position., cre- ating unnecessary tension.