The governments of Malta and the United States today issued a joint statement dispelling allegations about “lack of trust in key individuals”.

“Our bilateral relations have been consistently strong and continue to go from strength to strength,” the statement said, and any “allegations to the contrary… are false and have absolutely no impact on our friendship and close collaboration”.

The vague statement was referring to reports this week that suspected fuel smuggler Darren Debono alleged that US embassy officials asked him for information about Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, and Chief of Staff Keith Schembri, in exchange for them lifting sanctions against him.

Debono's lawyer, Victor Bugeja, claimed that the US officials wanted information regarding giving fuel to Russian ships. The lawyer said that Debono was asked to confirm whether two Russian ships which were not allowed to refuel in Malta were taken outside territorial waters refuelled by him. He also said that the officials wanted information about Muscat and Schembri.

Without referring specifically to these reports, the Malta-US statement said that the two countries “work together in a very transparent and honest manner, from economic and financial engagement, to cultural and educational exchanges, political consultation, and regional security and law enforcement cooperation. 

“Over the past three years, we have seen significant growth in our partnership with security and law enforcement elements along with cooperation against common threats to our countries.

“We are partners in finding solutions to issues of global transnational importance and Central Mediterranean security such as weapons proliferation, climate change, energy security, trafficking in drugs and persons, transnational crime, migration, and protecting our borders.

“Any allegations to the contrary, including those implying lack of trust in key individuals in the government, are false and have absolutely no impact on our friendship and close collaboration,” the statement said.