Southeast Asia-Australia regional security cooperation

Regional security efforts have focused on strengthening coordination against transnational threats through high-level meetings in Jakarta and Sydney.

In Jakarta, Indonesia and Australia co-chaired the 7th Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Security. Representatives from eight nations discussed combating terrorism, violent extremism, human trafficking, and cybercrime. Specific attention was given to the rise of online scam centers in Myanmar and Cambodia, as well as the misuse of artificial intelligence in criminal activities and propaganda. Participants emphasized intelligence sharing and victim protection over direct pressure on host countries.

Following this, police leaders from Australia, the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, and Southeast Asia convened in Sydney for the International Counter Terrorism Forum. This meeting focused on preventing cross-border violence by examining lessons from the Bondi massacre and attacks on Jewish communities. Discussions also addressed the spread of extremist ideologies via social media and the emergence of ‘violence-as-a-service’ recruitment models.