The recent repeated assistance by the Armed Forces to boat people migrating illegally on the high seas, as reported in the local and foreign media (Mediaset's TG5 and TG.com, featured in The Times - September 11), highlights the state of unpreparedness Malta and the AFM are in when it comes to handling illegal migration in the central Mediterranean area.
It is no secret that the AFM lacks adequate offshore patrolling surface assets and its persistence over these recent years in uselessly investing thousands of liri into aging ex-East German Kondor patrol boats has put back the Maltese military budget that would have been better spent on newer or, maybe, smaller, yet more cost-effective, patrol craft and, particularly, inshore ones (where they are badly needed!).
As the stubborn obstinacy persists in the continued operation and life extension of these offshore craft, the AFM's hasty assumption that with one or two intermediate range craft, like the brand new Protector-class boat (donated by the US), will solve their effective high seas patrolling woes remains dashed. Any local mariner knows that, over these recent years, the AFM's maritime squadron's presence in our bays and coves has decreased drastically and coastal surveillance and patrolling has been compromised to a ludicrous degree.
The EU should be better involved in assisting local maritime law-enforcement agencies if it does not want Malta to become an easy fringe stepping-stone state for illegal migration onto mainland Europe.
Under Schengen border control agreements which Malta, through the acquis, must comply to, its responsibilities will increase greatly and there seems to be no immediate short-term or long-term strategy and policy (procurement or operations-wise) which suggest that the AFM will be more pro-active in its modus operandi.
The odd rubber-dinghy zooming in summer weather on sea-safety regulations' enforcement or illegal bird hunting at sea is hardly a deterrent against illegal migration, contraband and narcotics trafficking.
Neither does it do any good for the AFM's image the fact that most illegal migrants spotted offshore are first sighted by local fishermen more often than not. It only rams home further the case that AFM's high seas patrolling is negligible and its air cover of the Maltese sector of interest is simply not adequate (it was a US Navy P-3 Orion aircraft out of Naval Air Station Sigonella, in Sicily, that spotted a missing local fisherman of late).
With the AFM's assets stuck to their berths for want of spare parts, proper funding and more personnel, certain quarters might argue favourably towards having a more permanent Italian Navy or Coast Guard patrolling presence in Malta.
Italian Air Force helicopters based in Malta are routinely used for search and rescue (SAR) missions and not for interdicting air cover and intelligence gathering on the high seas.
This perpetuated state of affairs does not encourage the officers and men in the AFM to be inventive and professional enough in the fulfilment of their tasks. As the overseas qualified personnel's initiatives and keenness are downplayed, for the sake of false economies or the simple absence of any funds, the soldiers still lack the incentive to work and complete their declared mission statement.
Onward EU, maybe someday, somehow, the Maltese military will sober up from its sleepy slumber to meet its immediate tangible needs.