{"id":60565,"date":"2026-10-13T14:55:42","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T13:55:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=60565"},"modified":"2026-10-13T14:55:44","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T13:55:44","slug":"malta-warns-of-the-impact-of-escalating-conflict-in-the-arabian-gulf-on-mediterranean-shipping-and-trade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/13\/malta-warns-of-the-impact-of-escalating-conflict-in-the-arabian-gulf-on-mediterranean-shipping-and-trade\/","title":{"rendered":"Malta warns of the impact of escalating conflict in the Arabian Gulf on Mediterranean shipping and trade"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Chris Fearne expressed Malta&#8217;s concern over the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, which is now extending into the Arabian Gulf, and its potential consequences for maritime security, international trade and the economies of Malta and other Mediterranean countries.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking during the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Minister Fearne stressed that disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, together with threats to commercial shipping routes through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, are a serious concern for southern European countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA significant share of trade arriving from Asia into the Mediterranean passes through the Suez Canal. Any disruption to these shipping routes could have a direct impact on trade and our economy. It is therefore in Malta&#8217;s interest to ensure that these routes remain open and secure,&#8221; Minister Fearne said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this context, Malta expressed its support for the EU High Representative&#8217;s call to strengthen naval protection for commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Minister Fearne stressed that Malta&#8217;s neutrality does not prevent it from safeguarding its maritime and economic interests, while continuing to support diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turning to Palestine, Minister Fearne reaffirmed Malta&#8217;s support for a two-state solution and expressed serious concern over settler violence, the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and the lack of progress on the Gaza Peace Plan. He also stressed the importance of the Palestinian democratic process, calling for elections to be held as soon as possible, without unnecessary postponements that would further delay democratic renewal and the representation of the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Ukraine, the Minister welcomed discussions on a possible ceasefire, particularly as winter approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the meetings in Luxembourg, Minister Fearne also reiterated the importance of solidarity and equality among EU Member States. He reaffirmed Malta&#8217;s support for EU enlargement, including the European integration of Montenegro and Albania.\u200b\u200b<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div><p id=\"pvc_stats_60565\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"60565\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p><div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Chris Fearne expressed Malta&#8217;s concern over the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, which is now extending into the Arabian Gulf, and its potential consequences for maritime security, international trade and the economies of Malta and other Mediterranean countries. Speaking during the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_60565\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"60565\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 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Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Chris Fearne expressed Malta&#8217;s concern over the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, which is now extending into the Arabian Gulf, and its potential consequences for maritime security, international trade and the economies of Malta and other Mediterranean countries. Speaking during the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg,&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60565"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60565\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60567,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60565\/revisions\/60567"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}