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Tag Archives: EU
Pressure Points in the Central Mediterranean
A Russian submarine off Sicily, U.S. defense tariffs, rising oil prices and shifting migration routes are squeezing the central Mediterranean—and Malta sits right in the squeeze. We unpack those pressures and outline practical steps the Islands can take to stay ahead of the curve. Continue reading
Posted in ARMED FORCES OF MALTA, GENERAL OBSERVATIONS & THOUGHTS, Island Fortress, Malta, WORLD MILITARY
Tagged AFM, ARMED FORCES, ARMED FORCES OF MALTA, border, CentralMed, defense procurement, EnergySecurity, EU, EU funding, European Union, fleet renewal, FORZI ARMATI, FRONTEX, HybridWarfare, illegal migration, irregular migration, MALTA, Malta defense, MaltaSecurity, MALTESE, MALTESE MILITARY, MALTIN, maritime budget, maritime security, MaritimeAwareness, Mediterranean security, migration, MigrationReady, military planning, naval strategy, strategic planning, Valletta
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Gaps at Sea: Why Malta Needs a Unified Naval Strategy
We trace two decades of stopgap naval decisions in Malta—from the lone P61 to the belated P71—and shows how reactive procurement, heavy reliance on EU funding, and shifting military roles have left gaps in maritime defense. We argue for a unified, long-term strategy driven by stable budgeting and clear leadership so that Malta can replace one-off fixes with a fleet built for future security challenges. Continue reading
Posted in GENERAL OBSERVATIONS & THOUGHTS
Tagged AFM, ARMED FORCES, ARMED FORCES OF MALTA, border, defense procurement, EU, EU funding, European Union, fleet renewal, FORZI ARMATI, FRONTEX, MALTA, Malta defense, MALTESE, MALTESE MILITARY, MALTIN, maritime budget, maritime security, Mediterranean security, military planning, naval strategy, P61, P71, strategic planning
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Reactive to Proactive: Building Malta’s Long-Term Maritime Defense
Tracing two decades of stopgap naval decisions in Malta—from the lone P61 to the belated P71—and shows how reactive procurement, heavy reliance on EU funding, and shifting military roles have left gaps in maritime defense. We argue for a unified, long-term strategy driven by stable budgeting and clear leadership so that Malta can replace one-off fixes with a fleet built for future security challenges. Continue reading
Posted in GENERAL OBSERVATIONS & THOUGHTS
Tagged AFM, ARMED FORCES, ARMED FORCES OF MALTA, border, defense procurement, EU, EU funding, European Union, fleet renewal, FORZI ARMATI, FRONTEX, illegal migration, irregular migration, MALTA, Malta defense, MALTESE, MALTESE MILITARY, MALTIN, maritime budget, maritime security, Mediterranean security, military planning, naval strategy, P61, P71, strategic planning
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Malta’s Quiet Watch: Reading the Ukraine Conflict from the Central Mediterranean
Malta’s unique position between Europe, North Africa and the Levant reveals early signals from the Ukraine conflict. Watching energy prices, bond yields and maritime traffic, Malta’s diplomats need to transform subtle shifts into practical insights for regional stability. Continue reading
Posted in GENERAL OBSERVATIONS & THOUGHTS
Tagged AFM, ARMED FORCES, ARMED FORCES OF MALTA, border, Central Mediterranean, commodity shipments, diplomatic strategy, energy markets, EU, European geopolitics, European Union, FORZI ARMATI, hybrid warfare, MALTA, Malta diplomacy, MALTESE, MALTESE MILITARY, MALTIN, maritime security, market signals, military posture, nuclear deterrence, open-source intelligence, port monitoring, refugee flows, Russia-Ukraine conflict, Valletta
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Lessons from the 12-Day War
Twelve days of missiles and maneuvering left the Middle East with more questions than answers. We try to unpack the headlines, the power plays, and the uneasy calm that followed. It’s a look at how fast-moving conflict can shift alliances, test defenses, and leave old problems unresolved—reminding us that in this region, survival sometimes matters more than victory.
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Posted in GENERAL OBSERVATIONS & THOUGHTS
Tagged 12DayWar, Ceasefire, EU, European Union, GeopoliticalTensions, Geopolitics, GlobalSilences, IranIsrael, MiddleEastConflict, MiddleEastReflection, ModernConflict, NarrativesOfPower, PartialVictories, PowerPolitics, QuietAftermath, SymbolicForce, TruthInFragments
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In a blow to Apple, the EU settles on a single mobile charging port.
EU agrees single mobile charging port in blow to Apple. Continue reading
Posted in GEEKY OR TECHIE GADGET STUFF, GENERAL OBSERVATIONS & THOUGHTS
Tagged Alex Agius Saliba, Android, Angelo Zino, Apple, Brussels, CFRA, EU, European Commission, European Union, Huawei, IDC, iphone, iPhones, Jitesh Ubrani, Lightning cable, Samsung, Thierry Breton, USB micro-B connector, USB-C
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THE FRAGMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE FACE OF MIGRATION
THE TOWER OF BABEL ( or The Collapse of Modern European Empire) (originally published by the author in the Malta Independent on 13 November 2012 ) The Collapse of Modern European Empire. The European Union is today floating in stormy … Continue reading
FRONTEX’S OPERATIONS DIRECTOR LIKELY TO BECOME THE EU AGENCY’S NEXT DIRECTOR GENERAL
The Operations Director of FRONTEX, German border policeman Klaus Rosler, is earmarked and set to become the EU border-control coordination agency’s next Director General. This despite his coming under the scrutiny and fire of the EU Ombudsman when it was established that there was maladministration on the part of Frontex. Continue reading
Posted in GENERAL OBSERVATIONS & THOUGHTS, WORLD MILITARY
Tagged EU, EU Ombudsman, FRONTEX, Klaus Rosler
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The Cons's Nook: www.ivanmconsiglio.com 
A European Union Citizen’s Wake-Up Call: When Travel Turns Into Compliance
In a climate where travel is becoming less about connection and more about compliance, we examine the newly introduced U.S. visa integrity fee from a European perspective shaped by one’s own military service and a lifetime of storytelling. It challenges the logic of charging visitors to prove their trustworthiness, reflecting on what this shift says about openness, surveillance, and the quiet erosion of cultural exchange. Continue reading →