Australia is making a major contribution to a regional maritime security and counter-terrorism exercise in Brunei and Singapore being held from 2 – 12 May 2016.

Australia will join 17 other ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) nations participating in the exercise.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne said Australian Special Forces; Navy ships HMAS Anzac and HMAS Bathurst; and headquarters staff will rehearse their responses to a maritime terrorism scenario during the exercise.

“Australia is making a significant contribution to this practical demonstration of regional cooperation and joint resolve,” Minister Payne said.

“Terrorism knows no national boundaries, and the security of regional sea lines is critical to regional stability and prosperity.”

Australia continues to provide strong support to ADMM-Plus exercises such as this, which build practical cooperation between regional militaries.

The exercise is a tangible result of Australia and Singapore’s hard-work as co-chairs of the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working group on Counter Terrorism, and demonstrates the maturity of the ADMM-Plus as a regional institution.