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Tag Archives: illegal migration
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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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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The Mediterranean has transformed from a passive buffer into a “compression chamber”
A focused look at how Haftar’s Benghazi regime, “dark fleet” tankers, Houthi raids and Europe’s industrial strains are converging to tighten maritime pressure—shaping a new strategic reality Malta can’t ignore. Continue reading
Posted in GENERAL OBSERVATIONS & THOUGHTS
Tagged AIS blackout, benghazi, border, cyber friction, Cyrenaica realignment, dark shipping, dual-use infrastructure, energy security, European Union, FRONTEX, frozen Libyan assets, Haftar regime, Houthi Red Sea raids, hybrid maritime threats, illegal migration, irregular migration, MALTA, Malta defense, MALTESE, MALTESE MILITARY, Mediterranean security, migration, migration pressure, NATO southern flank, shadow logistics, Valletta, Wagner in Fezzan
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New rules for Frontex rescues: EU Parliament approves search and rescue rules to prevent deaths at sea
Clearer search and rescue rules for EU border guards dealing with migrants at risk of drowning in the Mediterranean – ©Frontex_Eurosur 2014 New search and rescue rules to clarify how border guards serving in Frontex sea operations should deal with … Continue reading
NORDIC-DRIVEN E.U. IGNORES SOUTHERN SMALLER STATES PLIGHTS
The Nordic-driven EU leadership persists in ignoring the plights of its southern member states in the Mediterranean on issues related to migration flows from North Africa and Asia. Cannot avoid commenting on this, and it might be hard not … Continue reading
Posted in GENERAL OBSERVATIONS & THOUGHTS
Tagged E.U., EU, illegal migration, irregular migration, migration
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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 →