Malta’s diplomacy has never been driven by volume or visibility, but by precision, continuity, and trust. As a small island state at the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta has long relied on careful judgment and sustained relationships to remain relevant in global affairs. That approach is evident in its engagement with the United States, where bilateral ties have matured quietly through cooperation in health, security, education, trade, and multilateral diplomacy.
At the center of this engagement is His Excellency Godfrey Carmel Xuereb, Ambassador of Malta to the United States. Trained in Public Health and shaped by decades of leadership in public health diplomacy, Ambassador Xuereb arrived in Washington with a professional background uncommon in traditional diplomacy. Before his appointment, he served in senior international roles within the UN system, including periods that demanded coordination across borders, institutions, and crisis environments. That experience continues to inform his diplomatic outlook, one rooted in problem-solving, institutional cooperation, and direct attention to citizens.
In this interview, Ambassador Xuereb speaks candidly about Malta–U.S. relations as they stand today and where they are headed. He discusses Malta’s work with the United States within the international multilateral system, expanding collaboration in medical research and health innovation, the country’s growing profile in technology and pharmaceuticals, and the role of cultural diplomacy in sustaining people-to-people ties. He also reflects on Malta’s constitutional neutrality, its security cooperation in the Mediterranean, and the responsibilities that come with serving as a bridge between regions.
The conversation offers insight into how Malta defines its place in global diplomacy, not through alignment or rhetoric, but through consistency, partnership, and a clear understanding of its strategic value.
Your Excellency, you have an extensive career in global health and international leadership. Could you share what inspired your transition into diplomacy and how your previous experience shapes your approach as Malta’s Ambassador to the United States?
Well, my love for my country, my love for Malta, is one of the driving forces for me to do this job. My experience in public health and international public health has helped me not only negotiate the diplomatic part of the job but also ensure that everything that we do here is citizen focused. We make sure that the diaspora who live in the United States are well looked after by the embassy. We also ensure that the relations with the United States, which are human-to-human relationships, are strengthened and broadened. We also ensure that everything related to cultural discussions, cultural exchanges, educational exchanges, and trade exchanges are strengthened during my tenure as Ambassador.
Over the past few years, what developments in Malta–U.S. relations stand out as particularly positive, and how do they enhance collaboration between the two countries?
Well, we have had several important initiatives both in the international field and in multilateral work. Malta, in the first two years of my tenure, has been an elected member of the UN Security Council and the Chair in Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), where we have collaborated very closely with the United States, but also in bilateral relations. We have strengthened our bilateral relations under both administrations during my tenure, and we continue to ensure that the work that we do strengthens the bond between the Maltese people and the American people. Because at the end of it all, we need to ensure that peace and prosperity across the globe is something that we both aspire to.
Malta has emerged as a hub for technology, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy investment. How is the embassy fostering opportunities for American businesses to engage with Malta?
These areas are very important for trade relations between Malta and the United States. We have a number of companies already based in Malta that are doing excellent work in the areas of semiconductors and microelectronics, as well as small and medium-sized businesses that are fostering relations both with the United States and across the globe. We are proud to say that in the pharmaceutical sector we are now becoming an important Mediterranean hub, and there are a number of companies using Malta’s strategic position in the Mediterranean to ensure that they broaden their footprint across the Southern European Peninsula, as well as through North Africa and the Middle East.
Given your background in public health, what areas of collaboration between Malta and the U.S. in health innovation or medical technology do you find most promising?
We are very keen on increasing medical research and medical technology areas that Malta and the U.S. have already started to foster. We are proud to say that a Maltese born physician now leads one of the leading research centers in the United States, the Mayo Clinic. Therefore, we already have more than a few Maltese physicians and Maltese clinical researchers working here in the United States, and we want to increase this type of research both in public health medicine and, more importantly, in areas where Malta and the United States have common interests. We both have a common interest in non-communicable diseases, in preventing and finding treatments for diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Diseases that affect both Maltese citizens and United States citizens. Therefore, research opportunities in this area, not just clinical trials but also medical technologies, are something we are looking forward to increasing and advancing between our two countries.
Malta’s cultural heritage and its diaspora in the United States are notable assets. How does the embassy promote cultural exchange and strengthen people-to-people connections?
Maltese culture goes back a long way. We have a history that goes back seven thousand years. We have one of the oldest temples in Europe, even older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza. Malta also has a rich history because of its position at the center of the Mediterranean. We are doing our best to share this culture with the United States. A number of years ago, during the Christmas period, we brought to the Museum of the Bible some Maltese cribs to show the tradition of the Maltese crib to the people of the United States. In late 2025, we also had the first Maltese folklore group perform at the Kennedy Center. In that performance, they showcased for the first time a Maltese traditional instrument that had never been presented to the American public.
Our connections with the diaspora ensure that Malta’s heritage is preserved and promoted throughout the United States. We have some Maltese diaspora social clubs that keep the culture and traditions alive. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism also launched in 2025 an online program for learning the Maltese language for those of Maltese descent who wish to learn it.
The Maltese language is a unique language. It is spoken by only a few hundred thousand people and is the least-spoken official language of the European Union. It is an official EU language, and therefore we want to protect it and increase the number of people who speak it. Malta’s culture is also very important for relations between the United States and Malta, because we want American citizens to understand Malta’s position at the center of the Mediterranean, its strategic role during the two World Wars, and its importance in prehistoric migration across Europe and North Africa. Cultural exchange helps expand knowledge and experience globally, and this is one of the ways Malta works to promote peace and prosperity not only in the Mediterranean but around the world.
Malta plays a constructive role in Mediterranean diplomacy and regional initiatives. How does the Malta–U.S. partnership contribute to regional stability, sustainable development, and shared global priorities?
This partnership is an important factor in Mediterranean stability. Malta is constitutionally neutral, yet we maintain strong relations and security cooperation with the United States. Our military, navy, and coast guard receive training support from the United States. We therefore share a common understanding of what is needed for peace and prosperity in the Mediterranean. On the multilateral front, Malta and the United States collaborate regularly at the United Nations, the Security Council, and other international forums to ensure that Malta’s role in the Mediterranean aligns with global strategic vision. The United States recognizes Malta’s long history as a peacemaker, and Malta’s safety and neutrality contribute to peace and prosperity throughout the Mediterranean and beyond.
What opportunities exist for young Maltese and Maltese Americans to collaborate with U.S. counterparts in entrepreneurship, innovation, and professional networks?
We have strong and promising collaborations for young people in both Malta and the United States. Malta Enterprise runs initiatives targeted at young people who want to start small and medium-sized enterprises, and many U.S. citizens have taken advantage of these opportunities. We also maintain strong collaborations with a diverse range of universities across the United States, on the East Coast, in the central regions, and increasingly on the West Coast. When young people travel and engage with one another, they build understanding not only through collaboration but through shared culture and experience. Although Malta is a small country compared to the United States, we share values, ideas, and a belief in equal and prosperous treatment for all.
Looking ahead, what are your key priorities for Malta–U.S. relations during your tenure, and what achievements would you hope to define your ambassadorship?
I have defined my ambassadorship upon three pillars. The first is ensuring that the Maltese diaspora in the United States feels at home at the embassy. We have increased the number of honorary consuls across the United States to improve access to consular services. We also ensure regular communication among honorary consuls through virtual meetings and an annual gathering.
The second pillar is strengthening trade, education, and cultural links. We have expanded Maltese cultural events across Washington, D.C., New York, Detroit, and the San Francisco Bay Area. In education, we have strengthened functioning memoranda of understanding, joint master’s programs, and joint PhD programs, and we aim to increase student exchanges.
The third pillar is strengthening diplomatic relations between Malta and the United States. We already enjoy strong relations, and we aim to build on them through close cooperation with the State Department and the administration. My hope is to leave a legacy that positions Malta as a bridge for peace and prosperity, ensuring that Malta is recognized not only as a tourist destination or investment opportunity but as an important global diplomatic actor.
