The Home Affairs Ministry has officially announced its 10-year strategic plan for the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM), for the period of 2016 until 2026.
Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela has also announced that over the past four years, a total of €75 million has been invested in order to modernize the AFM, the majority of funding coming from the EU, while the remainder was provided by the Maltese government.
As part of its pre-electoral manifesto, the government has embarked on a 10-year strategy that hopes to achieve a long-term vision.
A set of standards have been identified for the AFM to reach over this 10-year period, with the focal point of the strategy being the identification and evaluation of the necessary resources in order for the AFM to meet the exigencies of Malta, and improve the working conditions of the AFM itself.
In a summarized policy document provided to members of the press, six strategic goals have been identified:
“To establish the necessary level of military capability that will be used to contain, repel and defeat any armed or hostile activity against the Maltese territory.
“Ensure that the appropriate deterrent to hostile intention is in place by providing adequate military presence throughout the sovereign territory in all relevant theatres of operation.
“In partnership with other Maltese agencies, assist in the protection of key critical infrastructure, key strategic locations and activities across all the sovereign territory.
“Improve the intelligence gathering function of the AFM to improve the national security awareness picture in order to ensure that the military commanders have the best possible information to make sound and informed decisions, as well as to provide the best advice to government on military and defence matters.
“Provide deployable military capabilities that can be utilised in international missions with the goal of contributing towards international peace and stability.
“Conduct the above activities by generating an adequate, trained and motivated Force that can respond efficiently and effectively to the diverse assigned tasks and missions.”
Home Affairs Minister Abela said that there has not been a strategic vision for the AFM since 1996, when there was a Labour Party government in power.
He added that with today’s changing international climate, and ways in which to respond to the rising threat of terrorism getting more complicated, safeguarding Malta and its people must truly be a top priority. With this in mind, he said, the modernisation of the AFM is of paramount importance.
Mr Abela also announced the setting up of a new unit, the Special Operations Unit. The hope is for there to be three platoons, one tasked with local missions, while the other two would contribute towards international missions.
One platoon has already been formed while the other two are in the process of being set up.