Malta's Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia shot back at Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, after the Italian politician accused Malta of conducting a 'hostile act'.
Salvini claims that, instead of aiding a boat carrying 13 migrants, the Maltese authorities gave them a compass and life vests for them to continue their journey to Lampedusa, Italy.
Salvini, ever since being appointed to his post in Italy, has taken hard stance when it comes to migration, and has been in many arguments with Malta and the EU when it came to migrant arrivals via the Mediterranean.
This hard stance has led to many standoffs between Malta and Italy over the taking in of migrants crossing the sea.
In his tweet, Salvini also referred to France, saying that migrants were being secretly helped across the border from France to Italy.
He said Italy will not be intimidated by the European Union, which is threatening action against Italy over its economic policy and financial results.
In response, Farrugia said: "Stop criticizing Malta for doing its duties and start taking note of what Italy should do better in order to give priority and care to the safety of lives at sea and to abide by international obligations."
"Italy that repeatedly fails to comply with applicable International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) conventions and international obligations. Malta has always followed all obligations and respected the principle of the nearest place of safety."
"Salvini should understand that migrant boats steaming on high seas are not always in distress. If persons on board refuse to get rescued, no SAR authority can prohibit them from continuing their journey."
"Malta has done much more than what was expected, and disembarked migrants in Malta on humanitarian grounds due to #Italy's systematic failure to provide any form of assistance to persons in distress."