In all European countries... or almost all... fullscale public debates have been raging about national security issues, both by way of foreign military threats, as well as of internal concerns. True, in their great majority, these countries are NATO member states and consider Russia as a fundamental threat while they're still shell shocked by how the current US administration is treating them.

In Malta, we have not had any public discussion about the state of our national security arrangements. Of course, if others feel the need to review their national security policy, that should in no way mean that Malta must do the same. Still, when neighbouring countries review their national security policies to introduce new strategies, that could automatically affect our own security.

Which is the sitation we are in and it makes sense to give attention to the issue. This approach becomes more relevant given that on the operational side, recent news items... like the drug heist at the army's headquarters, the "mechanical" breakdown in the most important boat run by maritime security forces, and the number of army helicopters that are out of service... have indicated that there exist serious problems in running routine security exercises.

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PUBLIC INVESTMENTS 

There is limited recognition regarding how the investment priorities that governments (including ours) apply from year to year to their budgetary allocations, have been influenced by the EU. A substantial portion of the EU's own budget is handed out to national governments and contributes greatly - sometimes less so, but still significantly - to their national investment projects.

However, the European contribution is only earmarked for certain kinds of projects, in sectors pre-selected by the Union. A criterion that was in force for many years, was that national projects should also serve to promote the single European market.

Naturally governments began to give preference to national projects that fitted such a descriptor in order to reduce their direct investment commitment and compensate for this with European funds. It followed then that in Malta for instance, for many years big investments were carried out in main roads and flyovers while secondary streets were neglected.           

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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Billions of dollars in huge volumes are being committed to the development of artificial intelligence. Corporations that are massively involved in communications view this sector as one that will continue to open new opportunities for innovation and profits. They are involved in a race to achieve a dominant position in tomorrow's markets when the major applications of the artificial intelligence technology begin to deliver their full results. The progress recorded as of now is extremely limited compared to what is likely to be reached in future. The major powers of the globe have joined in this frantic race, convinced that who falls behind in it will turn into an eternal loser.

But what will happen should it be discovered that all these expectations are exaggerrated? Or that many of the breakthroughs which are being prospected turn out to be paper discoveries,  or need much longer timeframes that what has been assumed they need to become reality? From a number of perspectives, the blind rush after the expected deliveries of artificial intelligence greatly resembles how many serious financial bubbles came to life in the economic history of humanity.