At the moment, the words of the late Dom Mintoff at the 1975 Helsinki peace agreement talks between Europe, the US, Canada and the USSR that there can't be peace and stability in the world without peace and stability in the Mediterranean region seem rather prophetic. These words that back than annoyed larger countries like the United States, were regurgitated this week by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat ahead of the UN Security Council meeting and seem to have been welcomed and agreed to.

With the situation in Libya deteriorating, security fears and risks are continuously being monitored and addressed by the authorities in Malta and all around the world. Media attention has shifted and the international attention is now on what is going regarding the IS. The effect that this terrorist group has had on the international community has been devastating and unsettling to say the least. But how true are claims that mainland Europe and Malta are the next targets of the IS? I believe that the IS has already infiltrated Europe but isn't as successful in its mission as it is in North Africa. However, the situation needs to be addressed in an appropriate manner as soon as possible. The following is my two opinions on the matter.

The last words of revolutionary Che Guevara before he died were reportedly, "I know you've come to kill me. Shoot coward, you are only going to kill a man". The same applies to the situation with terror groups such as ISIL, Boko Haram and other branches of extremist groups, in the sense that when western countries and Arab states attack such groups, they are only killing their men and not the extremist idea founding them.

Unfortunately, this extremist idea, which exists everywhere around the world, has flourished in countries such as Libya, Syria, Nigeria and Iraq, torn apart by wars, conflict and instability. In these places, a security vacuum has allowed terror groups to establish themselves, brainwash the younger generations and turn them into militia fighters who are willing to lay down their lives for the greater cause - that of having a caliphate. This situation is, in my opinion, a direct effect of the rapidly imposed democracy by western countries, namely the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy on these states. Take Libya for example - the words of Muammar Gaddafi that without him Libya would be unstable and fall to pieces, at the moment seem to be the words of a visionary and even though I hold democratic principles in high regard, I am much more fond of the security and stability of the Mediterranean region. The same applies to Iraq - where the United Kingdom and United States decided to impose their democratic ways following the invasion.

Now that the situation has escalated so much and is a persistent threat to the stability and security of mainland Europe, the EU seems to be in a panic over the whole situation and the US, which is usually one of the more vocal countries on such issues, seems to very quiet and letting other states take centre stage. Obviously, for the European Union the problem is much bigger because its shores are closer to those of North Africa and threats of militants that Europe is next on their target list are on the increase.

Given the above, I believe that there is no other way to address the situation other than to offer states in the region all the assistance they require, in whatever form they deem necessary. I also believe the larger countries a with military force should send ground troops and equipment to help bring stability to the region but be very careful not to repeat the same mistakes they did before - i.e. leaving these states too early without letting their respective governments find their feet first. Smaller member states like Malta could offer their assistance to help promote dialogue and serve as genuine mediators between such countries and the Western world.

 

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