There are moments in public life when a single sentence reveals far more than the speaker intended to mean. This week, Malta was given such a moment when the Prime Minister, asked about global instability and the possibility of war, chose not to gloat at what he felt was his track record, chiming in with a most ill-advised "it would not be my first war". He was reacting to a question about the increasingly threatening scenario of an international armed conflict, and how Malta would be placed to deal with such a situation.

This was not merely a clumsy turn of phrase, but a deliberate attempt to frame fear as a political asset, to suggest that in uncertain times voters should cling to familiar faces not because they are principled, capable or visionary, but because they have supposedly "been through it before".

Fine, the Covid pandemic was an unprecedented circumstance, but in no way can we equate it with the onslaught of hardships of a world war. It is a profoundly flawed way to discuss international relations, especially for a country that has always been committed to neutrality, whose greatest strength in moments of global tension has always been its diplomacy, its restraint and its commitment to peace.

I don't need to talk at length about the bitter experience Malta has had of war in the past. Those few who still remember the last significant war that Malta experienced will vouch that it is absolutely nothing to be cavalier about. The difference is that this time, Malta has its own leadership which supposedly has its own people's interest at heart. And that should make all the difference. 

We are not a military power. We do not project force. We have no interest in confrontation. Our role on the international stage has always been to act as a bridge, to promote dialogue, and to use our voice within the European Union and the wider international community to advocate for stability and peaceful solutions. To imply that war readiness, rather than peace-building, should be the measure of a Maltese Prime Minister is to misunderstand both our history and our national interest.

When the world feels unstable, people look to their leaders not for bravado, but for clarity and reassurance. A serious, commendable response to today's international tensions from the Prime Minister would have been simple and statesmanlike: Malta is neutral, the global situation is worrying, and we will do everything in our power, alongside our partners, to promote peace and protect our people. That is what responsible leadership sounds like. It does not flirt with catastrophe or use the threat of global conflict as a campaign talking point.

Can you imagine legendary leaders such as Winston Churchill or Franklin D. Roosevelt making such childish remarks?  On the contrary, they understood that war is the ultimate failure of politics, not its proving ground. They spoke about sacrifice, responsibility and the heavy burden of decisions that could cost lives. They did not reduce global instability to an Instagram reel.

Sadly, this is the same Prime Minister who recently attacked and opposed a stronger European defence posture, only to later reverse course and vote in favour of it in Brussels. One day, he dismisses collective security as unnecessary or even dangerous, the next, he embraces it when politically convenient. This kind of opportunism further erodes trust at a time when consistency and credibility are most needed.

Fear is a powerful political tool, but it is also a deeply corrosive one. It narrows debate, discourages change and makes people cling to the status quo even when that status quo is no longer serving them well. Malta's future, however, cannot be built on being frightened into submission. It must be built on confidence, on clear values, and on leaders who believe that the country deserves better than scare tactics.

Malta needs leadership that can think strategically, speak responsibly and act with integrity. It needs a new government that understands that neutrality is not passiveness, that diplomacy is not weakness, and that peace is not something to be taken for granted. Above all, it needs leaders who are willing to usher in a new era of maturity in our politics, one in which the electorate is respected rather than manipulated.

Darren Carabott is Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Reforms, and chairman of the Public Accounts Committee