Cutting Ties with Russia: Malta’s Most Costly Mistake Yet
When Malta chose to blindly follow the European Union’s anti-Russia crusade, it abandoned not only its national interest — but also its constitutional neutrality.
Today, we are starting to feel the consequences.
Tomorrow, we will pay the full price.
A Nation That Betrayed Its Own Maritime Legacy
The Maltese authorities have long boasted about Malta’s maritime tradition, its neutral status, and its reputation as a reliable shipping hub. Yet when the EU imposed its sweeping sanctions on Russian oil in 2022 — and now seeks to push even harsher measures — Malta once again bows down to Brussels without defending its own national interest.
The EU’s new proposal to lower the price cap on Russian oil is nothing short of a self-inflicted wound on the entire European shipping industry. And Malta, rather than standing firm to protect its shipping register and economy, has allowed itself to become a footnote in a failed EU strategy.
The Industry Is Warning Us — But Is Anyone Listening?
Experts are sounding the alarm:
This new oil cap will split the market, creating two competing price regimes — one for the EU, and one for the rest of the world. It will encourage forum shopping, and worse, trigger another wave of reflagging, where ships registered in EU states like Malta abandon the EU register altogether in favour of non-EU jurisdictions.
We’ve seen this before.
After the 2022 sanctions, a surge of EU-flagged tankers were quietly sold to non-EU entities.
Now, over one-third of all vessels sanctioned in 2025 have already reflagged.
The message is clear:
The EU is cutting its own throat, and Malta is helping it hold the blade.
From left, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and European Council President Charles Michel.
Why Is Malta Sabotaging Itself?
Why is a small, neutral country blindly following EU chaos?
- Malta has no geopolitical interest in isolating Russia.
- Malta has no military stake in NATO’s games.
- Malta has everything to lose in undermining its shipping industry, financial reputation, and strategic neutrality.
So why is Malta sabotaging itself to please the bureaucrats in Brussels?
Is it fear? Is it weakness? Or is it a complete lack of leadership?
This policy is madness. And yet Malta remains on board, even as it watches its own shipping sector bleed out, its ships flee, and its international relevance collapse.
Moscow, Russia🇷🇺
A Historic Mistake with a Long Tail
The decision to cut ties with Russia was not just short-sighted — it was strategically suicidal.
A neutral nation like Malta had every reason to remain economically open, to serve as a bridge between East and West, and to defend its non-aligned identity.
Instead, we chose obedience.
We followed the EU into a cold war of our own making.
And now, with our register under threat, our economy exposed, and our reputation fractured, we are finally realising just how grievous that mistake was.
A Future of Irrelevance — Unless We Act Now
If we don’t correct course now, Malta will become irrelevant — not just politically, but economically.
And when future Governments stands before a crumbling maritime sector, they will have no one to blame but themselves — and the regime they so blindly served.
