The Armed Forces of Malta have rescued 605 persons in the Mediterranean so far this year, Home Affairs Michael Farrugia has revealed. 

In reply to a series of parliamentary questions tabled by Opposition MP Beppe Fenech Adami, Farrugia also revealed that there have been 186 repatriated persons in 2018, up from the 171 repatriated in 2017 and the 96 persons in 2017.

This marks a drastic increase from the significant decreases recorded since 2013, which has dropped from 2008 boat arrivals that year, to just 23 in 2017.

The increase reflects the series of diplomatic standoffs between Malta and Italy that defined last summer after the rise of an anti-migrant populist coalition, composed of two parties at opposite ends of the political spectrum, in Italy.

Malta has been steadfast in standing its ground on the issue, with Prime Minister Muscat employing aggressive tactics in the face of growing tensions, blocking NGOs from entering or exiting Maltese ports, grounding an NGO's spotter plane and only accepting the entry of a vessel following an ad-hoc agreement ensuring the relocation of the migrants between eight European states.