Terrorism among topics in ASEAN defense ministers’ meet

FILE PHOTO/ ASEAN (Photo by aseansecretariat/Facebook)EN

MANILA — Countering the threats posed by terrorism is one of the main topics in the upcoming 11th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) and 4th ADMM-Plus meeting, said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday.

The event, which will be held Oct. 23 to 24, will be held at Clark Field, Pampanga.

“One (of the topics in the coming ADMM) is counter-terrorism, one is climate mitigation, drug problems, and of course, we are going to have some statements also on the resolution of the conflicts within the West Philippine Sea,” he noted.

Lorenzana said he is hopeful that ASEAN nations will have a unified statement on these matters.

Aside from ASEAN members, the DND chief said that dialogues will also be held with eight other nations which include the US, China, Russia, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, India, and Japan.

“It is now, more than ever, that all countries must come together to unite against terrorism and violent extremism. the global war on terror cannot succeed if we do not explore avenues for cooperation and mutual exchanges,” the DND chief earlier said.

Lorenzana also pointed out that as a community of nations, every country must do its fair share against terrorism since these problems go beyond borders and national boundaries.

“Violence in one country can spread to another, with far reaching consequences in regional peace, security, and trade,” he said.  (PNA)