Joint Statement by the ADMM-Plus Defence Ministers on Preventing and Countering the Threat of Terrorism

We, the Defence Ministers of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Australia, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America gathered in Singapore on 20 October 2018 for the Fifth ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (hereinafter referred to as "ADMM-Plus").

We note with grave concern the spread of terrorism which seriously undermines the peace, stability, and security of our region and the world.

We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations given that it constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. We reaffirm that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever, wherever, and by whomsoever committed, and remain determined to contribute further to enhancing the effectiveness of the overall effort to fight this scourge on a global level.

We stress that terrorism can only be defeated by a sustained and comprehensive approach at the national and international levels. In this regard, we emphasise the importance of cooperation between states and their competent bodies who bear the primary responsibility in preventing and countering terrorism. We call upon all states to fulfil their international counter-terrorism obligations, including taking lawful steps to prevent the commission of terrorist acts, eliminating the financing of terrorism and other material support thereto, suppressing the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, and preventing the recruitment and movement of terrorists.

In responding to the scourge of terrorism, we welcome the recent adoption of the counter-terrorism-related United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolutions, such as the UN Security Council Resolutions 2354 and 2396, and we commit ourselves to the full implementation of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We note the progress on the full implementation of the ASEAN Convention on Counter-Terrorism and the ASEAN Comprehensive Plan of Action on Counter-Terrorism.

We recall the East Asia Summit (EAS) Leaders' Statement on Countering Ideological Challenges of Terrorism and Terrorist Narratives and Propaganda, the EAS Leaders' Declaration on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism adopted by the 12th EAS on 14 November 2017, as well as the principles reflected in the 2015 EAS Statement on Countering Violent Extremism, and the 2014 EAS Statement on the Rise of Violence and Brutality Committed by Terrorist/Extremist Organisations in Iraq and Syria.

We also recall the Joint Statement of the Special ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting on Countering Violent Extremism, Radicalisation and Terrorism that was issued on 23 October 2017, and the Joint Statement by the ASEAN Defence Ministers on Countering Terrorism in ASEAN that was issued on 6 February 2018.

We underscore our commitment to strengthen regional cooperation and undertake effective measures to counter terrorism, such as through capacity-building initiatives, and the sharing of information, intelligence, experience, best practices, and lessons learned, while ensuring that these efforts are carried out consistent with states' obligations under international law.

Recognising that terrorism and the spread of terrorist ideology are growing threats that affect the entirety of our region and therefore require a collective regional response, we intend to increase our flexibility to work closer together, to be innovative and adaptive, to seek new ways to cooperate, and to forge new partnerships to counter the threat of terrorism, including by developing effective counter-narrative strategies and initiatives.

In this regard, we intend to step up practical military-to-military cooperation through the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (EWG on CT). We continue to support the conclusion of sub-regional counter-terrorism collaboration efforts, including the Trilateral Meeting on Security held in Manila on 22 June 2017, the Sub-Regional Meeting on Foreign Terrorist Fighters and Cross Border Terrorism: Enhancing Domestic and Collective Responses held in Manado on 29 July 2017, "Our Eyes" Initiative, the Sub-Regional Defence Ministers' Meeting on Counter-Terrorism, Trilateral Meeting of Defence Ministers in Manila on 14 September 2018, and other sub-regional initiatives, to continuously develop strategies, techniques, and tactics in countering terrorism and its related threats.

We intend to work closely with other ASEAN-led mechanisms and platforms such as the EAS and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to strengthen our collective capacity and resolve to prevent and counter the threat of terrorism and address all the conditions conducive to its spread.

More Resources

ASEAN and Eight Partners to Strengthen Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, to Explore Collective Application of World’s First Multilateral Air Guidelines Across 18 Countries

Joint Statement by the ADMM-Plus Defence Ministers on Practical Confidence-Building Measures

Chairman's Statement of the 5th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (Admm-Plus)