It has been an interesting couple of years for Malta in the international sphere of foreign relations.
It was already an exceptional occasion for Malta to be a part of the United Nations Security Council, with our tiny country holding the presidency of this institution of global importance.
It was a presidency which was well-received as well, keeping important topics at the top of the agenda. This included the war in Ukraine, where Malta hit all the right notes - never impinging on its constitutional neutrality but also never shying away from condemning Russia's illegal invasion of another country's sovereign territory.
Malta was also active in trying to bring about a ceasefire in the Middle East after war erupted there between Israel and Palestine - taking important stands in favour of humanitarian aid reaching the areas which are hardest hit, ergo, Gaza.
Malta stepped into another important position at the end of 2023, taking on the chairpersonship of the Organisation for Security & Cooperation in Europe at the eleventh hour after no agreement could be reached for Estonia to chair the organisation.
This is an important organisation which has a mandate that includes issues such as arms control, the promotion of human rights, freedom of the press, and free and fair elections - and Malta's appointment came at a very important time as well.
This was because the OSCE is set to turn 50 next year, but it was within a context where agreements on important things such as its leadership and budget were not forthcoming.
Malta's chairpersonship culminated in the organisation of the OSCE's 31st Ministerial Council in Malta last week, which saw dignitaries and representatives from the 56 other member states all convene to discuss the way forward for the organisation.
The outcomes were not as comprehensive as they could have been - no agreement was reached on a budget, for example - but it was an important moment regardless, as an agreement was reached on the new leadership to take the OSCE forward.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg was right when he addressed delegates and admitted that he faced a situation where the OSCE could come to an untimely end in Malta's lap if no agreements on its future were reached.
Yet while Malta's legacy will not be a perfect OSCE, Borg said, the organisation had emerged from the country as a more resilient one.
There was controversy in this council meeting particularly over the attendance of Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. It was the first time that Lavrov set foot inside the European Union since Russia invaded Ukraine and there were some countries who protested this - but Borg was right to say that this was the occasion to tell Lavrov, and Russia, directly that their actions were condemnable.
Borg himself did not shy away from condemning Russia's invasion from Ukraine once again, saying that Russia must immediately withdraw from Ukrainian sovereign territory.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry is usually something of a death sentence for a politician's career, as it is seen to be outside of the limelight of local politics and, therefore, voters - but Ian Borg did not seem to get this memo when he took the role.
Malta and its position in the world of foreign affairs is all the better for it.