We are gathered here this evening to mark the National Day of the United States of America. This year’s event is especially significant, as it also commemorates the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776. This remarkable milestone is a source of great pride for the American people all around the world.
Over the past two and a half centuries, the United States has evolved into the nation we know today: a nation that has inspired and attracted millions of people from across the globe in search of a better future.
The Statue of Liberty, perhaps the most iconic US landmark, continues to serve as a universal symbol of freedom, democracy, and friendship among nations to this day. Over the decades, it has welcomed countless immigrants arriving in New York by sea, offering them hope and inspiration before even setting foot on US soil.
Millions of people have chased the American Dream, an ethos that has defined a nation, based on the idea that any individual can achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative, regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.
Among them were thousands of Maltese who also set sail across the ocean looking for greener pastures at a time when opportunities on our islands were scarce. They made America their home, built their families, and distinguished themselves in different fields. Today, they are proud to be Maltese-American, as they continue to cherish their Maltese roots and preserve their language and cultural heritage within their families and communities across the US.
The vibrant and diverse Maltese Community in the United States continues to serve as a living link between our countries, enhancing the strong bilateral relations that we have enjoyed for the past 62 years since attaining our own independence on 21 September 1964.
This important role is reflected through the Council for Maltese Living Abroad, which serves as a key advisory body and a platform for engagement with our diaspora worldwide, including members representing North America.
Malta greatly values these enduring ties between our nations, a relationship built on democratic principles, common values, and mutual respect.
Over the years, our countries have signed numerous agreements in different fields, forming the framework for a modern and dynamic partnership which has yielded results in trade and investment, security and defence, taxation, aviation, and maritime cooperation.
We are deeply grateful to the Members of Congress who have taken the initiative to establish the Congressional Friends of Malta Caucus. The launch of the caucus represents a significant new chapter in the relationship between Malta and the United States. This bipartisan initiative provides a dedicated platform to strengthen dialogue, deepen parliamentary ties, and advance the enduring friendship between our two countries.
Malta looks forward to continuing to build on these achievements. As an EU Member State and partner country, we remain committed to engaging constructively with the United States, both at the political and technical levels, and address barriers to trade that hinder further cooperation, in line with the World Trade Organization rules-based trade system.
Tourism is another sector that continues to attract significant numbers. In this regard, I am pleased to note the arrival of the first Delta Airlines direct flight from New York to Malta last month, a service which will continue to operate three times a week until October. There is no doubt that such enhanced connectivity will play a key role in bringing our citizens and our businesses closer to each other, also enabling faster exports of high-value low-volume cargo.
Engagement is also strong in other fields, such as culture, education, youth, and sports. Milton Avery and His Enduring Influence on Contemporary Painting, an exhibition held at MICAS that came to a close in April this year, is testament to the fruitful collaboration in the cultural sphere.
In the educational sector, we have collaborated in a number of educational programmes, including the Fulbright and GLOBE Programme, involving 54 Maltese schools. In these areas too, our intention is to continue working towards more tangible initiatives which serve to strengthen people-to-people contacts.
Ladies and gentlemen
Over the past few years, Malta and the United States have also worked closely with each other in multilateral forums, such as the United Nations Security Council and at the OSCE. We collaborated on several important issues, standing together as a strong voice for the rules-based international order and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
Together, we co-penned Security Council Resolution 2744, a resolution which now clearly outlines fair and transparent procedures for those subject to targeted sanctions. At the OSCE, we cooperated closely to ensure the organisation’s sustainability and its capacity to provide comprehensive responses to issues affecting the participating States.
In doing so, we witnessed first-hand the critical role the United States has to play on the world stage. Since the end of the Cold War, it remains uniquely placed to use its influence as a force for good and a voice for peace. This is not only a position of great privilege, but one of great responsibility.
The United States remains at the centre of the multilateral system we have today, particularly in view of its status as a founding member of the UN and as a permanent member of the Security Council. To this end, together we must continue to invest in diplomacy, and in those multilateral institutions that provide the space for dialogue and understanding.
It would be of great benefit if all nations worked together to preserve this system that, despite its shortcomings, has led to the beginning of a new dawn for humanity following the immense suffering brought about by two devastating world wars.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the various conflicts in the Middle East have amplified the need for dialogue and the importance of international law, including International Humanitarian Law.
In the Middle East, it is of paramount importance that the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran continues to hold, and that all parties are committed to addressing outstanding issues through dialogue and negotiations. This is critical if this conflict is to be brought to an end.
Our main aim should remain the achievement of lasting peace in the region. This will not only provide hope to the affected populations but will also provide much needed stability in global trade.
I extend my sincere thanks to Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Oman, and other regional interlocutors for their crucial role in supporting the talks over the past weeks.
Before I conclude, I would also like to highlight the relationship between the European Union and the United States, which has long served as a cornerstone for global peace and stability. It is a relationship rooted in shared democratic values, economic interdependence, and security alliances, one that remains especially relevant in today’s geopolitical context.
It is therefore incumbent upon us to continue to invest in this relationship, to make sure that it remains robust, ambitious, and mutually beneficial.
Ladies and gentlemen
I once again extend my thanks to Ambassador Farkas for hosting us this evening. Malta looks ahead with confidence and optimism as we continue strengthening the bonds between our nations. May the friendship between Malta and the United States continue to flourish for generations to come.
On behalf of the people of Malta, I raise a toast to the continued well-being of His Excellency Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, and to the enduring friendship between our nations and our peoples.