Neutral yet aligned? Malta’s security and defence identity as an EU member state

Abstract

Malta joined the European Union in 2004 as a neutral member state, joining the likes of Ireland, Austria, and then neutrals Sweden and Finland. Malta has aligned itself within the EU and utilizes its membership as a source of shelter through its economic and political integration. It also participates and aligns itself in broader foreign policy positions and on transnational and nonmilitary security concerns and uses its membership as a platform to project its broader foreign policy initiatives. Its neutrality has allowed it flexibility and room for manoeuvre, whereby it has increasingly postured itself as militarily neutral and nonaligned, but not politically neutral. Yet, Malta’s neutrality is driven by pragmatism, rather than principle alone. It retains and utilises its neutrality as a safeguard for its political autonomy and sovereignty. The dynamics and debate surrounding neutrality have been inevitably impacted by the onset of Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has raised questions over the meaning, relevance and implementation of neutrality for small, neutral EU member states such as Malta. Neutrality in the context of EU membership and war in Ukraine mean that Malta is effectively aligned and integrated within European security and defence architecture, yet, unlike other former European neutrals it is still unprepared to commit more actively to EU defence integration or NATO. Yet the available frameworks and contributions that a small state can make should be maximized to the country’s advantage and capacity building.