Malta’s neutrality, a solemn declaration inscribed in our Constitution, is at stake following the resolution passed last week by the right-wing-contaminated European Parliament for each and every EU member state to dedicate a 0.25% of its GDP annually to buy weapons for Ukraine. Even worse, allowing for those very weapons to be used in Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory. The resolution was sadly backed by feeble-hearted Socialists and Democrats, except for four, including Labour’s three MEPs: Alex Agius Saliba, Daniel Attard, and Thomas Bajada.

It is all so illogical – what will tiny Malta’s response to this war-mongering move be, given we accept the fact that our Constitution is superior to any other treaty or agreement which the country is coerced or convinced into signing through false assurances (Maltese hunters know all about that, but not the Spanish bull-fighters) and derogations that act more like a parliamentary guillotine than a fair way of balancing diverse issues?

This is a huge predicament for our government but certainly an even bigger test of nerves for our people, who staunchly believe in peace and absolutely cherish their neutrality. From time immemorial, the Maltese nation has been through too many other people’s wars, inevitably ending up, proportionately, as among the prime victims. From the Punic Wars and the Great Siege to World War I and World War II especially, Maltese families watched helplessly as they had their young men conscripted to fight, to die and to kill, and as they ran to seek shelter while the German Stukas destroyed their homes, again killing thousands of their loved ones.

Yes, there was the solitary miracle of Mosta, but no such miracle can stop a Russian hypersonic missile hitting the island and obliterating it in just a few seconds. Even if they chose to hit Sicily, which is swarming with European and US military bases, we’d still not be able to avoid annihilation. Participating directily or indirectly in a third-party war by purchasing and sending weapons to one side of the conflict is a declaration of war in itself.

Malta may not be the only member state with such a quandary, and there are also other neutrality-bound nations in Europe, like archetypal Switzerland, as well as EU member states which simply do not agree with the notion of arming one nation against another. But the question remains: would they be ready to defy the US vassal of Brussels? The Italians, for example, have expressed their misgivings, creating the dilemma of a right-wing government taking on the right-wing zealots from Germany, France, and other parts of the continent. In this ongoing process, Premier Meloni could just shrink and quickly rot away like a melon in the blistering sun. Malta has to fight her own battle.

Not a single bullet needs to be bought for Ukraine – not because Malta and most of the Maltese do not support its right to defend itself from the invading Russians, making sure we provided medical supplies and essential commodities while welcoming a large group of Ukrainian refugees, but we do not have a Constitution that is there solely for exhibiting in the national showcase. It is there because we truly believe a neutral Malta is always a safer and saner option for a people that had suffered more than enough by having to produce innocent human fodder for their rulers who, of course, would not take no for an answer.

Expect the same from the recently appointed and re-elected high officials (a  war cabinet?) running the European Union on behalf of the one and only superpower, conveniently passing the stinking buck to noneother than our lass being told what to do in the European Parliament. The whole humiliating EU fracas over the Gaza genocide is testimony to all the hypocrisy and double standards that the EU has become synonymous with.

Time will tell whether our Constitution will need to prevail or not. There should be no doubt about our democratically-elected government taking the issue back to Brussels, if needed. There is also no doubt the reaction from EU strategists would be embroidered around privileges and funds and opportunities. Anything to unwind a nation’s resolve, a people’s commitment, a small member state with a ridiculously minuscule army.

Orbán is another story

The same independent media squealers will come out howling about Malta doing an “Orbán” if it were to refuse to sacrifice 0.25% of its GPD on weapons for Ukraine. But they couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Members of the European Parliament are demanding that Hungary be stripped of its voting rights in the EU after Orbán’s trips to Russia and China. In a letter obtained by Politico, 63 MEPs addressed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, outgoing European Council President Charles Michel, and European Parliament big chief Roberta Metsola, saying the Hungarian Prime Minister “has already caused significant damage by exploiting and abusing the role of the Council Presidency.” Exactly the type of tactics used against those member states which refuse to toe the line. In the name of democracy, of course.

Friend of Putin or not, Orbán is a leader on a quest for peace. It does not make his ultra right-wing views, particularly on immigration, seem less serious, but is he not entitled to give his personal share in trying to end the war, or is the EU against such peace processes? He represents his country, is known for his keen negotiating skills, and is always there, among the other European leaders, to explain and retort if required. The Brussels bunch seemingly can’t handle a leader who thinks for himself, ergo not a puppet. But of course, he has no Constitution that forbids him from seeking peace. We have one that rightly forbids us from abetting another people’s war.

This Orbán episode has all the makings of another exit from the EU. Destroying the one politician who takes up his responsibility and wants peace would be irresponsible and absurd.