National Security Minister Carmelo Abela confirmed yesterday the government did not intend deploying Maltese soldiers in a UN-mandated mission in Libya even if it was a peacekeeping operation.
In any case, Mr Abela added, such a mission did not seem to be on the cards at the moment.
“The Prime Minister has already said we will participate in a UN-mandated mission but that this does not necessarily mean through the presence of Maltese soldiers on the ground,” he said.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Malta was not in a position to send soldiers because it does not have the capability and assets to contribute troops.
This view was not shared by senior army officers, including two retired commanders, who insisted that Malta’s army was fully capable and had the capacity to contribute troops in such a military operation.
Pressed on this issue, Mr Abela stuck to the Prime Minister’s stand although he did not contradict the statements by the retired commanders.
“At the end of the day, it is a political decision that needs to be taken.
“We have to first see what the UN mandate will be and then take it from there. However, the indication already given by the Prime Minster is that no Maltese troops will be sent to Libya.”
Over the past years, the army invested millions in euros in training abroad and in new assets so that its soldiers are trained to the highest levels.
The C Special Duties Company – considered the elite arm of the Armed Forces of Malta – has already participated in EU military missions overseas, the latest being in patrols off the Somali coast against piracy.
Former AFM commander, Brigadier Maurice Calleja told Times of Malta the army could afford to contribute to any ground operation with a platoon and this would be a strong signal by Malta that it did not just expect others to do the job.
Brigadier Rupert Montanaro, under whose watch the Maltese army had started participating in EU fora, contradicted the Prime Minister’s declarations.
Insisting that the Maltese army was fully capable of participating in ground operations in Libya, he said that even a token presence would be sending the right message.
Malta’s participation through the army would show real commitment, the retired officer said.
According to Brig. Montanaro, Malta could not expect help to be readily available if it lacked the political will to make a concrete commitment when there were situations like this.