The Labour Government will be remembered as the administration that dismantled and undermined the Armed Forces of Malta, to the point where the reputation of our soldiers and military personnel is being affected, the Nationalist Party said Friday.

Labour has been eroding the Army's command structure for years, and now it is reaping what it sowed. It will be remembered for how it undermined our national security, making it fragile through its misguided decisions, the PN said.

A disciplined force takes years to rebuild, but a new Nationalist Government will be committed to investing in the Army and our soldiers, restoring our national security.

In the first two months of this year,  we witnessed two Moroccan nationals escaping from a plane, running across the airport tarmac and fleeing into the country. Two months later, they remain at large.

We have now seen a theft of 200 kilograms of drugs from outside the barrack block of the Special Operations Unit (SOU) of the Armed Forces of Malta - supposedly one of the most secure locations in the country. The stolen drugs were under the custody of the Armed Forces of Malta, the PN said.

The PN said it has repeatedly called for serious investment in the security, defence, and operations of the Armed Forces of Malta.

A particular case of lack of investment - which put soldiers and pilots of the Armed Forces at risk - occurred in July 2024, when the PN expressed solidarity with the pilots and technicians of the Air Wing who were involved in the SA316B Alouette III helicopter incident. Similarly, in March of the same year, soldiers narrowly escaped harm in another incident involving the same type of helicopter.

Regarding the Air Wing, a Nationalist Government prior to 2013 had planned and paved the way for the purchase of new small helicopters for training and search-and-rescue operations near the Maltese coast. Unfortunately, after over 11 years, the Labour Government has left the soldiers and pilots of the Armed Forces of Malta operating in danger. The pre-2013 Nationalist Government had planned for these helicopters to be phased out by 2015. However, the Labour Government failed to invest in new helicopters for training and search-and-rescue operations near the Maltese coast, instead leaving Air Wing pilots and technicians to continue working with outdated aircraft.

Out of six helicopters of this type, only one remains operational and capable of performing rescue missions, the PN said.

Furthermore, it is well known among soldiers and former service members that the Labour Government has altered the leadership style within the Armed Forces of Malta, where merit, commitment, and integrity no longer hold value.

Politically chosen individuals were promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2013, then to Colonel, with some even being appointed Deputy Commander or Brigadier within weeks - and today, some of these individuals have even been assigned roles within the Office of the Prime Minister. This highlights how the Labour Government fails to distinguish between the command of the Armed Forces of Malta and politically appointed individuals, the PN said.

We all remember Prime Minister Robert Abela's response to the PN's call for investment in security, defence, and the operations of the Armed Forces of Malta. During a Labour Party political event on 17 March 2024, he stated that such investment would mean "sending Maltese children to war." This response reflects how the Labour Government does not believe in investing in the country's defence.

For the PN, it is not just about investing in defence but also about ensuring that public funds are spent wisely to improve the quality of the Armed Forces of Malta. The PN said it believes that a serious plan should be developed for investing in human resources, particularly in training to enable soldiers to fulfil their duties effectively. This is especially important for officers in command within the Armed Forces. The failure of the Armed Forces' leadership to invest in officer training has resulted in a lack of knowledge on how to carry out their responsibilities efficiently and competently.

An example of wasteful spending - rather than a lack of funds - is the case of the Offshore Patrol Boat P71. Millions in public funds were spent on its purchase, repairs, and fuel for its generator. Yet, despite this significant investment, it was the P61 vessel, commissioned in 2005, that was deployed for the rescue mission in Derna, Libya, in September 2023, transporting Armed Forces soldiers and Civil Protection Department members. This means that a vessel purchased in 2005 was able to perform a function that a ship inaugurated in March 2023 should have been capable of. This illustrates the stark contrast between strategic investments made with foresight and purpose, and those made under the Labour Government, the PN said.

A significant number of soldiers are approaching the PN, expressing their anger at how the Labour Government is tarnishing the sacrifices they make, the party added. They also feel that their dangerous and risky work, both in Malta and during overseas service far from their families, is being undermined by the Government's political interference in the Army.

However, now the truth is surfacing. Soldiers speaking to the PN continuously tell us the same story.

The Partit Nazzjonalista thanks the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Malta for their service and expresses its solidarity with them.

Given the situation in the Armed Forces of Malta, which falls under the direct responsibility of Minister Byron Camilleri, the PN reiterates its call for Camilleri to take responsibility and resign.

In light of these scandals within the Army - most notably the theft of 200kg of drugs from what should be one of the most secure locations in the country - the PN invites the Maltese public to join its protest in Valletta on Sunday, 9 March, to make their voices heard against the bad decisions of Robert Abela's Government - a Government that has failed.