The US Department of State hosted representatives from India, Japan, and Australia for the QUAD Counter-Terrorism Working Group meeting in Honolulu from December 19 to December 21, 2023. The aim was to strengthen efforts, including information sharing to counter extremism in the Indo-Pacific Region.
As part of the Counter-Terrorism Working Group efforts, this multi-day event included presentations and a tabletop exercise focused on enhancing QUAD Cooperation in response to an overwhelming terrorist incident in the Indo-Pacific Region, according to a statement by the US State Department.
Details of the Multi-Day Event
The discussions included exchanging information on ever-evolving terrorism threats, further developing regional coordination mechanisms, and countering terrorist use of emerging technologies. The participants explored what capabilities and support the QUAD will offer and how the minilateral coordination to maintain and support the existing capacities of the Indo-Pacific countries. Gregory Logerfo, the acting principal deputy coordinator for counter-terrorism led the US interagency delegation.
Key Areas of Focus
“We continue to cooperate on countering the use of the internet and other technologies for terrorist and violent extremism purposes. We are committed to countering counter-terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including preventing the international cross-border movement of terrorists and countering terror financing networks and safe havens. We stressed the need for a comprehensive and balanced approach to effectively curb terrorist activities through the whole nation and whole of international community efforts,” the statement said.
The QUAD convenes four like-minded regional partners, the US, Australia, India, and Japan to make tangible progress on pressing challenges within the region and support a free and open Indo-Pacific Region that is also resilient and inclusive, the statement affirmed.
Previous Meetings
During their meeting in September 2023, the QUAD Foreign Ministers held detailed discussions on counter-terror partnerships. “We also discussed the recent QUAD Counterterrorism Working Group Consequent Management Exercise which explored the capabilities and support the QUAD Countries could offer regional partners in response to a terrorist attack and look forward to the upcoming QUAD Counterterrorism Working Group Meeting and the tabletop exercise in Honolulu, Hawaii in December which will focus on the countering the use of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes,” the statement said.
