Home / National Book Prize / Diplomat by Destiny Literary Non-Fiction Diplomat by Destiny George Saliba was a career diplomat, whose service to his country spanned decades. From a childhood in the southern Maltese coastal village of Żurrieq, he pursued his studies, ultimately earning a Master’s degree from John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, after which Saliba joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and went on to walk the highest international corridors of power. Starting as Malta’s ambassador to the Arabian Gulf states, he moved on to serve as ambassador to Libya, and then to Russia, from where he was summoned to New York to serve as Malta’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, after which he served as ambassador to the United States. His long and distinguished career saw him serving under both Labour and Nationalist administrations, a feat in its own right in such a polarised political climate as Malta’s. Against the backdrop of momentous global events during his time at the heart of Malta’s diplomatic efforts, George Saliba explores the delicate art of diplomacy. Through personal stories and professional insights, he reflects on the challenges and triumphs of balancing national and international interests, navigating geopolitical tensions, interactions with world leaders and representing a nation in a career dedicated to advocating for Malta on the international stage. He takes great care to give us glimpses of how family and personal connections contributed in no small way to his struggles and successes in his career. Buy the book SKS Publishers Literary Non-Fiction 2026 George Saliba George Saliba is married and has three children and four grandsons. Born and brought up in Żurrieq, he grew up almost as an orphan. His father died when he was only two years and nine months old, while his mother had to go to work to raise her four children. She worked a 52-hour week over six days. As a result, George grew up with his grandparents and aunts, together with his three sisters. He received his primary education at the Żurrieq Primary School, where his teachers did everything they could to provide him with a solid educational foundation. He subsequently spent five years at the Lyceum in Ħamrun. His tertiary education focused mainly on international relations, with studies at universities and institutions in Oxford, Bologna and Washington, DC. During the latter part of his university education, he specialised in Middle Eastern affairs. Before embarking on his diplomatic career, George spent some time working in the field of agricultural cooperatives. During his career as a diplomat and ambassador, he served in the Arab Gulf, Libya and Russia, as well as at the United Nations and in Washington, DC. He eventually served in Barcelona as a representative of the Union for the Mediterranean. Of all the places in which he served, George considers Libya the one that gave him the greatest satisfaction, despite the many difficulties he encountered there. He had never planned or dreamed of pursuing such a career. Looking back on his life, he could easily have given his autobiography the subtitle What If? NEED ANY HELP? GET IN TOUCH contact us