PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TOURISM Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg in talks with senior US Government officials in Washington

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg held talks with senior officials of the United States Government in Washington to explore opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, connectivity, maritime security, and energy security.

Dr Borg and the Maltese delegation met with Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.

The trade agreement recently reached between the European Union and the United States topped the agenda of these meetings. In their discussions, Malta and the United States noted that this agreement opens new opportunities for EU member states and the United States, particularly in the strengthening of energy security.

Deputy Prime Minister Borg and Secretaries Burgum and Wright discussed the energy security strategies of the two countries. They also talked about the crucial role of Malta in the global maritime industry, as the Secretaries expressed their appreciation for the effective cooperation between the two countries in the field of maritime security, especially through the new Global Centre for Maritime Sanctions Monitoring (GCMSM), which launched its operations from its base in Malta this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Borg also updated the Secretaries on the ongoing efforts regarding air connectivity between Malta and the United States. In this regard, he explained that a potential agreement with an American airline would be crucial in further strengthening relations between the two countries, with promising prospects for increased trade across various sectors.