Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547312
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 OCTOBER 2026 NEWS WITH SAVIOUR BALZAN THURSDAY AT 10.15PM ON TVM Malta undecided on participation in new EU Lebanon mission MALTA is supporting a recently agreed EU civilian and military mission in Lebanon but any deci- sion on participation will "depend on further assessment", the For- eign Affairs Ministry said. EU foreign ministers decided on 11 October to set up the EU Sup- port Mission in Lebanon (EUSM Lebanon) to strengthen the coun- try's security forces. The mission will have an initial mandate of three years. "Further discussions within the EU Foreign Affairs Council and operational planning are re- quired before the mission can be deployed," a spokesperson for the ministry said. The spokesperson added that Malta has expressed "support in principle for this peace initiative, which focuses on defensive train- ing and non-lethal assistance". Asked whether Malta will be par- ticipating, the spokesperson said: "Any decision on Malta's partic- ipation would depend on further assessment, including compatibil- ity with its constitutional neutral- ity obligations and the availability of resources." EUSM Lebanon will have a mil- itary pillar and a civilian pillar, operating under a unified political mandate while carrying out com- plementary tasks. The military pillar will provide advisory support and training to strengthen the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces, for bor- der and maritime security. This will include support for land bor- der surveillance and control, in- telligence, surveillance and recon- naissance, counter-smuggling and operational coordination. The civilian pillar will support the Internal Security Forces through advisory support and specialised training aimed at strengthening operational capabilities and devel- oping sustainable training struc- tures. This support will include areas such as cybercrime and an- ti-smuggling. It will also provide support to the strengthening of port security governance, includ- ing at the Port of Beirut. The Maltese armed forces have experience operating in Lebanon, where a contingent formed part of the UN mission (UNIFIL) for sev- eral years. The Armed Forces of Malta contingent, made up of 10 soldiers, was embedded with the Irish and Polish battalion. The UN mission will wind down by the end of this year after the ex- piry of its mandate. Speaking at the end of the FAC that agreed to set up EUSM Leb- anon, Kaja Kallas, EU high rep- resentative for foreign affairs and security policy, said Europe is in- vested in Lebanon's future. "With this new mission—a ma- jor update of our security ties— we continue to support the coun- try's institutions in restoring full sovereignty and building lasting stability for the Lebanese people," she added. KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt AFM soliders (Photo: AFM)