There is no doubt that things have changed, in terms of national security, over the past years. The threat of Islamic State proliferating on our doorstep is palpable. In the past, this publishing house, and others, were made out to be alarmist, for reporting potential threats coming from Libya.

In time, we have been proved right, with the EU accepting that ISIS operatives may be making their way to mainland Europe on board vessels along with migrants. These thoughts were confirmed when one of the suspects involved in the Bardo Museum massacre was arrested in Italy, having escaped there on a migrant boat.

Over the past decade, Malta’s Armed Forces have shifted from what was a small peacetime force involved in local policing and bank security to a fully fledged search and rescue force that scours the Mediterranean for migrant boats which are left at the mercy of the elements.

The outdated Konder river boats were replaced by state of the art inshore and offshore patrol vessels, at a cost of millions of euros, though much was co-financed by the EU. The AFM will also be taking control of an offshore vessel which was donated by the Republic of Ireland to fill the gap while the Diciotti Class flagship undergoes a much needed refit. In the meantime, the AFM will shortly be issuing a call for another off shore vessel.

We have also pressed tailor-made Beechcraft search and rescue aircraft to replace the trusty and reliable Islander aircraft – known in Air Wing circles as a ‘washing machine’. The last aircraft being replaced are the Alouette helicopters, hand-me-downs from the Libyan Air Force. The AFM’s mechanics performed daily miracles to keep those helicopters going and often cannibalised the carcasses of ‘dead’ Alouettes to keep the others in the air.

The government has since purchased two modern Augusta Westland helicopters and a third will be added to the ranks to bring the Air Wing’s modernisation programme up to completion. The aircraft will cost €14 million and is co-financed by the EU.

But an Army is only an army if it has the personnel to operate such machines. In fact, Minister Carmelo Abela announced that another 100 recruits will be undergoing basic training following the latest induction of 70 earlier this week. He also announced that the ground force will also be receiving new equipment to accompany the new (and very sorely needed) uniforms and basic equipment. Some €250,000 will be spent on new radio equipment and bulletproof vests.

Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi was spot on when he said that all this equipment will be worthless unless Malta has enough trained and capable soldeirs to make use of it and to protect the country’s security. Needless to say, Maltese soldiers, seamen and airmen enjoy the confidence of many they have worked with, particularly on active deployment in the Med, on anti-piracy missions in Somalia and in all the training exercises they take part in with NATO and other forces.

These dedicated men and women risk their lives every day, and although still one of the smallest ratios in Europe, Malta’s expenditure on defence in relation to GDP has increased somewhat over the past few years. We need to continue to invest, and not only in materials, but also in training. We can never take anything for granted and Malta’s security depends on our small, yet very capable Armed Forces.