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Italy–Malta relations

Italy	Malta

Italy–Malta relations arebilateral relations between theItalian Republic and theRepublic of Malta. Both countries established official diplomatic relations soon after Malta's independence. Both countries are members of theEuropean Union,Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe,Union for the Mediterranean and theUnited Nations.

Malta and the Italian peninsula have a long history of relations given their proximity. Malta was part of theNormans'Kingdom of Sicily and remained associated with the Italian kingdom until 1194.^[1] TheKingdom of Naples would be involved in the war against theFrenchoccupation of the island.Italian was the official language in Malta since theKnights Hospitaller until the British control. In 1800 Malta became aprotectorate jointly administered by Naples and the United Kingdom, although the latter had more influence. By 1813 the island became a Britishcolony and thus moved outside the Italian sphere, although the presence of Italian culture and language remained strong. Indeed, Italian designs on the island were highlighted in April 1933, when on a visit to the island, Italian cabinet undersecretaryFrancesco Giunta stated that he was onItalian soil and that the future of the island lay in complete union with Italy.^[2] The two countries clashed duringWorld War II when Italy bombed the island during theSiege of Malta. Malta's rejection of Mussolini's fascism and Nazi support led to Italy bombing Malta for two years between 1940 and 1942.

Italy was the first country to establish a diplomatic mission in Malta and the first to appoint a resident ambassador (since then resident atVilla Bel Air inTa' Xbiex) after Malta achieved independence and became a full member of the UN. On December 1, 1964, the first Italian ambassador presented his credentials to the governor general, Sir Maurice Dorman.^[3]

In 1980, Malta entered into aneutrality agreement with Italy, under which Malta agreed not to enter into any alliance and Italy agreed to guarantee Malta's neutrality.^[4] Malta's relations with Italy have been described as "generally excellent".^[5]

Italy has an embassy inValletta. Malta has an embassy inRome and 18 honorary consulates (inBari,Bologna,Brescia,Cagliari,Catania,Genoa,Livorno,Milan,Naples,Palermo,Perugia,Reggio Calabria,Savona,Syracuse,Turin,Trieste, andVenice).

• Mattia Preti, painter
• Alberto Pullicino, painter
• Pietro Paolo Floriani, architect, after whomFloriana was named

• Arnold Cassola, politician
• Aidan Zammit, musician
• Samuel Deguara, basketball player

• Foreign relations of Italy
• Foreign relations of Malta
• Italian irredentism in Malta
• Accession of Malta to the European Union
• Malta–NATO relations
• European Union–NATO relations

• Italian embassy in VallettaArchived 2009-07-20 at theWayback Machine
• Directions of the Maltese representation in Italy^{[permanent dead link]}
• Henry Frendo,Malta-Italy relations: then and now,Times of Malta, Sunday, July 21, 2002

• Italy–Malta relations
• Bilateral relations of Italy
• Bilateral relations of Malta

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