Moving the Mediterranean Fleet would not hand Malta to Italy

Would shifting the Mediterranean Fleet east allow Italy to capture Malta?

No. Malta's geography, tiny beaches, difficult airborne terrain, and heavy garrison would still make invasion extremely hard.

Sending the Mediterranean Fleet toward the Indian Ocean would not allow Italy to seize Malta. The island's defensive strength did not rest on fleet presence alone. Malta offered very limited amphibious landing space, difficult ground for airborne troops, and one of Europe's densest garrisons. Removing ships could alter the wider Mediterranean balance, but it would not solve the attackers' fundamental landing and terrain problems.