Editing Malta (section)

===Military===
{{Main|Armed Forces of Malta}}

[[File:Malta armed forces marine ships 02.jpg|thumb|Maltese patrol ship at [[Hay Wharf]], [[Floriana]]]]
The objectives of the [[Armed Forces of Malta]] (AFM) are to maintain a military organisation with the primary aim of defending the islands' integrity according to the defence roles as set by the government in an efficient and cost-effective manner. This is achieved by emphasising the maintenance of Malta's territorial waters and airspace integrity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Defence Roles |url=https://afm.gov.mt/en/forcestructure/Pages/Defence-Roles.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508010819/https://afm.gov.mt/en/forcestructure/Pages/Defence-Roles.aspx |archive-date=8 May 2019 |website=Afm.gov.mt}}</ref>

The AFM also engages in combating terrorism, fighting against illicit drug trafficking, conducting anti-illegal immigrant operations and patrols, and anti-illegal fishing operations, operating [[search and rescue]] (SAR) services, and physical or electronic security and surveillance of sensitive locations. Malta's search-and-rescue area extends from east of [[Tunisia]] to west of [[Crete]], an area of around {{cvt|250000|km2}}.<ref>[https://afm.gov.mt/en/operationsanddeployments/national/Pages/Operations-Centre.aspx AFM Operations Centre – SAR Region] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508004339/https://afm.gov.mt/en/operationsanddeployments/national/Pages/Operations-Centre.aspx |date=8 May 2019 }}. Afm.gov.mt. Retrieved 28 December 2019</ref>

As a military organisation, the AFM provides backup support to the [[Malta Police Force]] (MPF) and other government departments/agencies in situations as required in an organised, disciplined manner in the event of national emergencies (such as natural disasters) or internal security and bomb disposal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Armed Forces of Malta |url=http://afm.gov.mt/en/Pages/AFM.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126145312/http://afm.gov.mt/en/Pages/AFM.aspx |archive-date=26 November 2016 |website=Afm.gov.mt}}</ref>

In 2020, Malta signed and ratified the UN [[treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chapter XXVI: Disarmament&nbsp;– No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |publisher=United Nations Treaty Collection |access-date=30 October 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806220546/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 September 2020 |title=Nuclear arms prohibition treaty ratified by foreign minister |work=Malta Today |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/104847/nuclear_arms_prohibition_treaty_ratified_by_foreign_minister |access-date=30 October 2020 |archive-date=3 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103124622/https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/104847/nuclear_arms_prohibition_treaty_ratified_by_foreign_minister |url-status=live }}</ref>