Malta needs to upgrade its defensive capability - AN

It was about time that Malta had a defensive capability tjat would help it meet the lesser threats if not the big ones, Azzjoni Nazzjonali said.

In a statement it said it was the government's duty to ensure the safety of its people and the integrity of its territory.

Malta needed to look for friends willing to help it upgrade its defensive capability in the shortest time possible.

AN said that Italy, a former guarantor of the country's independence, was keen to snatch from Malta part of its search and rescue area on the pretext that it did not have enough resources to carry out a proper search and rescue.

"Is that the reason why Italy has been so keen on making Malta take in illegal immigrants even when Malta was not the nearest port of call? Was this a deliberate strategy to paint Malta into a corner?"

AN said that one thing was certain. Malta did not have adequate resources to guard its territory and the surprise arrival of so many illegal immigrants proved this a long time ago.

"What Malta expects from EU member states is to be given the tools and the support we need to do the job rather than to allow us to be despoiled," AN said.