The best form of armament is diplomacy, Prime Minister Robert Abela said, explaining that it is more valuable than any armament that can be bought.

"When you are considered a true friend of everyone from every nation around you, that is the true protection a nation benefits from. When it doesn't pass through anyone's mind to attack you, because you would never have caused them harm, that is much better protection and security than any defence technological or armament money can buy," Abela said.

During a PL political activity in Birzebbugia on Sunday, the Prime Minister praised Malta's historic efforts to promote peace, noting that "everyone seems to take peace for granted."

He mentioned that Malta, through its constitutional neutrality and non-alignment, enshrines this principle in its foreign affairs.

He said that "this level of security can only be achieved by garnering respect" and that Malta is doing so by helping other countries broker peace themselves.

With Freedom Day approaching, Abela noted that current affairs from recent weeks - namely the war that has emerged in Iran and the Persian Gulf - "more than ever" shows what a correct decision it was for Malta to get the British to withdraw all their troops from the Maltese islands in 1979.

Abela said that the ramifications of war are never forgotten by those who experience it, a point which the country's surviving elders from the Second World War can relate to.

"How many of them still carry the anxiety of war and the trauma of bombs being dropped onto them?" Abela asked.

The Prime Minister said that these historic political choices have allowed Malta to become the economic success it is today, despite early criticisms that former Prime Minister Mintoff's decision for British troops to leave the Maltese islands could have impoverished the country, he said.

He said that while tourists are cancelling their trips abroad because of the war in Iran and the rest of the Arabian Gulf - including in Cyprus following drone strikes in British military bases located there - Malta is enjoying and "exporting" peace.

Abela stated that Malta can be active as a politically neutral country, noting that "neutrality doesn't mean you sit on the fence in the face of atrocities," but rather, active neutrality means opting for compromise, dialogue, and diplomacy instead of taking the high road.

He added that a central pillar of the government's foreign politics is to help Malta's neighbours also live in peace and stability. "The war in Iran and the Arabian Gulf shows how essential regional peace is," Abela said.

Building up towards Freedom Day at the end of the month, Abela said that this public holiday represents more than just the removal of British military bases in Malta, but also the removal of prejudices in favour of promoting civil rights.

The Prime Minister commented that the Labour Party has always been the political movement in Malta in favour of promoting rights, meanwhile, "you don't know where you stand with others, because not even they know where they stand. They are led by convenience, not by position; not by principle, but by what's comfortable."

Here, Abela criticised Opposition leader Alex Borg on his stance on women found guilty of having an abortion in Malta. Abela noted how first, the PN leader said that such cases should be handled on a case-by-case basis, before later "repeating" the Prime Minister's position that women should not be sent to prison.

Prime Minister says 'you will understand what it means to work for a better Malta' when manifesto is published 

During his political speech, Prime Minister Abela also said that "the time will come" when the Labour Party shares its new electoral manifesto.

Abela declared that when the Labour Party publishes its electoral manifesto, "you will understand what it means to work for a better Malta" and "what it means to work for new prosperity."

Abela did not provide any indication when the PL's electoral manifesto will be published. This comes at a time when the date of the next general election also remains unknown, though heavy speculation on its pending announcement persists.

Abela's government was elected for its five-year term in March 2022.

While praising the "large, credible, experienced, and competent team" within his Labour Party, the Prime Minister said that "others" can only try to copy the Labour Party's policies, "but they have no one within their ranks with the competence and required ability to lead in challenging times like these." He added that those within the Labour Party have passed through challenging times alongside him.

He added that in the first two months of 2026, the Maltese government has so far registered a budget surplus - allowing the country to set aside a quarter-billion euro (€250 million) to ensure that households and businesses are safeguarded by energy subsidies.

Earlier this month, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana told Parliament that with the national energy subsidies currently costing the Government of Malta circa €150 million annually, this financial cushion means that energy prices can nearly triple in price, to up to €400 million, and the government will still be able to fully shield citizens from more expensive energy across the Maltese islands. Caruana had stated that through this €250 million sum, Malta's budget deficit will not exceed 3% of its GDP - in line with excessive budget deficit procedure requirements.

Prime Minister Abela noted that if the Labour Party is still entrusted to govern after the next election, it will continue increasing benefits and reducing taxes. Here, he reminded that the last annual budget provided the "biggest tax cut" for parents and pensioners. Abela reiterated that it was "the best budget ever" through its €9.3 billion allocation.

He continued that future budgets under Labour governments will be better each passing year. Abela said that annual budgets under PL leadership will remain centred around social investments.

The Prime Minister commented that the Labour Party "will do everything" to put families in better positions through its policies.

Prime Minister says other EU countries considering partial energy subsidies amid international uncertainty

The Prime Minister of Malta said that amid the fluctuations in energy prices in recent weeks, some EU country leaders are considering introducing partial energy subsidies so that their citizens can better cope with the increasing cost of living.

PM Abela said that other EU leaders were considering this manoeuvre during the latest European Council on Thursday, just a few days prior.

Abela added that as electricity prices have shot up across Europe due to the war that emerged in Iran and the Arabian Gulf in recent weeks, Malta's energy subsidies will remain in place.

Abela declared that while petrol and diesel prices have surpassed €2 per litre in continental Europe as of late, energy prices in Malta have not risen by a single cent.

He told viewers that families, who were already struggling, in European countries beyond Malta's borders are now worrying about how they are going to manage to cope with rising electricity prices. Meanwhile, Maltese and Gozitans "are shielded by this Labour government's progressive politics."