COLLECTIVE STRENGTH TO COMBAT GLOBALISED THREATS

The threat of terrorism in the world today is the "most critical and immediate security issue" facing many nations, but we can take heart that regional armed forces are well-placed to carry out collaboration efforts against the wide range of trans-national threats, said Minister for Defence, Mr Teo Chee Hean.

Mr Teo gave the keynote address at the opening of the 7th Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO) on 4 Aug, which was organised by the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS).

Globalisation of threats is a reality in today's security environment, for national boundaries no longer protect us in a highly connected world. The repercussions of the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 9-11 terrorist attacks in the United States, for example, were felt far and wide.

"Most governments recognise that co-operation with other countries is no longer just 'good to have' but necessary," said Mr Teo, who added that such collaborations are particularly critical in the fight against terrorism.

"This response must go beyond political declarations of intent to concrete co-operative measures, particularly in the exchange of intelligence."

Regional militaries have the advantage of common professional experiences and understanding of operational realities on the ground, he explained.

Together with a strong tradition of defence diplomacy and the habit of working together in a wide range of bilateral and multilateral interactions, mutual understanding and trust has been forged and co-operative instinct is well established among regional armed forces.

A tangible result of this collaboration can be seen during the massive multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations after the Boxing Day tsunami last year.

"Regional armed forces worked shoulder-to-shoulder, and also with their counterparts from outside the region, bound by a sense of mission and their compassion for the victims," said Mr Teo.

"Their efforts could not have been so effective without their experience in working together and without the firm foundation of trust and understanding developed over the years."

This is why events such as APPSMO play an important role.

According to Mr Barry Desker (left), Director of IDSS, the main objective in organising the annual event is to help foster confidence and mutual trust and understanding among the participants and the armed forces they represent.

"We believe that such relationships play a vital role in safeguarding against misunderstandings and suspicions that all too often characterise international relations," Mr Desker said.

"The contacts and friendships that are made here will hopefully go some way in contributing to regional peace, progress and stability," he said.

This year, 58 participants from 27 countries are taking part in APPSMO, with officers from Germany, South Africa, Austria and Bangladesh making their first appearances.

During the one-week event, participants will attend lectures, panel discussions and have informal exchanges to learn and update their knowledge about developments in defence and security-related issues.

Topics to be covered this year include: United States power in the 21st century, regional responses towards the rise of China, crisis leadership in a hostage scenario, peacekeeping operations and coping with terrorism.