The new US Ambassador to Malta, Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, is no shrinking violet. She reminded The Sunday Times that, “clearly”, her President thought she had the necessary skills to represent the US “very well”. She added that the Secretary of State “certainly does”.
The ambassador expects those skills to stand her “in excellent stead” in Malta.
While self-praise is no recommendation, it is always pertinent to be frank. It is also pertinent to ask what skills the new ambassador brings to her job in Malta.
She is an expert in counter-terrorism and the Middle East with a long distinguished service atthe State Department, said The Sunday Times.
One certainly hopes that the ambassador will not have to draw too much on her skills and experience in counter-terrorism. While we stand at the edge of an area that is all too familiar with terrorism, that harsh practice has reached us only twice. On the other hand, Malta’s location makes us an ideal watching post, possibly more than that, for the United States in its mission of policeman of practically the whole world.
That was, I still hold, the main reason why a massive American embassy was built in Malta, on a large tract of land acquired from the government with the surprising unconditional blessing of the opposition Labour Party.
The embassy idea did not hatch overnight. It was conceived and the preparatory work executed when Libya was in the clutches of the Gaddafi regime and seemed destined to remain there for along time.
Happily, it did not turn out like that. The Libyans rid themselves of Muammar Gaddafi and his ilk. They have yet to decide what exactly to replace them with.
But it is unlikely that the unfinished business will throw up a distasteful and dangerous replica of Col Gaddafi. Amid the new spring that still has to lead to any glorious summer, the American Embassy in Malta will have all eyes and ears open.
The new ambassador will see to that. That is her job. That is why she was selected from among competing resources available to the State Department. That falls within the focus she has set herself. That, she told The Sunday Times, covers democracy, political reform, working with Malta for North Africa, economic development and trafficking in persons.
The agenda is clear and frank. It is quite outward-looking. In so far as it affects direct relations with Malta, the ambassador clarified it further. Her brief includes a desire by the US to capitalise on Malta’s position as a gateway between Europe and North Africa to expand business interests with Libya.
Clear enough, and old Dom Mintoff will smile grimly when he sees his ancient analysis being taken up by the US itself.
What will be required, in the way events have unfolded, will be for Maltese business interests to see proactively what fallout there will be for them from the American “gateway” project, in addition to their direct interests in Libya once the sand settles.
The interview with the new ambassador also centred on the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Malta.
Among other things, this regulates the criminal jurisdiction over foreign personnel in a host country, in short how visiting members of the US military would be treated here should they break the law.
SOFA is a priority for the US. I believe our government should continue to be wary of it. It might make US military visits more possible but even that is not a clearly desirable objective.
The constitutional neutrality clause and what armaments military visitors would carry aside, warships in our harbours will not stand well beside cruise liners. Times have changed. Tourism is the priority, not earnings from any military presence, whichever the nation involved.
On that note, it is good to underline Ms Abercrombie-Winstanley’s early recognition of a clear attraction for potential American tourists – Malta’s rich history.
That has not been exploited enough, perhaps because Malta cannot be a direct destination for Americans and twin or triple destinations are not easy to exploit. Still, the potential is there.
An area not covered in yesterday’s interview is American direct investment in Malta. Some exists but not enough.
Over the years, previous ambassadors since the very first, George Feldman decades ago, tried to promote it. So did various American politicians who led or formed part of American delegations sounding out Malta’s potential.
There was not enough success. Perhaps AmbassadorAbercrombie-Wistanley can do better.
May her stay here be fruitful in the right areas.