ADF deployment good strategy

The Turnbull government’s decision to urgently deploy Australian Defence Force personnel to The Philippines to train local forces for the fight against Islamist terrorism is overwhelmingly in Australia’s strategic and security interests. The capability and durability of Islamic State-linked militants who have finally been prised from their remarkable five-month hold on Marawi, a city of 300,000 on the island of Mindanao, has exposed the grave shortcomings of Manila’s armed forces and the need for Australia to help ensure Islamist terrorism is not entrenched on our doorstep.

Counter-terrorism experts across the region were appalled by the flat-footed incompetence in urban warfare shown by The Philippines’ armed forces, despite their long history of being equipped and working closely with the US military. Defence Minister Marise Payne’s announcement, after meeting Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, that 80 ADF trainers would be deployed to train local forces in skills honed in Iraq and Syria should help remedy the shortfall. As Senator Payne said, “The spread of Daesh (Islamic State)-inspired terrorism is a direct threat to Australia and its interests, and we are committed to working with our partners and allies to ensure Daesh cannot establish a geographic foothold in the region.”

When Islamic militants, including jihadists from Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and other countries, seized control of Marawi on May 23 and raised the Islamic State flag, the Philippine Army was expected to make short work of them. The fact they held out for so long despite all that the army, assisted by US Special Forces as well as intelligence from RAAF P-3 Orion surveillance flights, could throw at them underscored the inadequacy of Manila’s fighting forces. Reportedly, the terrorists used many of the tactics Islamic State employed during its protracted occupations of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria, including tunnels, booby traps and drones. More than 1000 people, mostly terrorists, were killed in the Marawi battle. Dozens of civilians were beheaded and churches in the staunchly Catholic area were desecrated. More than 300,000 people were forced to flee their homes — all this in a country far from the Middle East, and on Australia’s doorstep.

Regarding the terrorists’ ousting from Marawi as a triumph would be a mistake. Those who were not killed faded away into surrounding countryside, where they will rejoin the various Islamist terrorist groups that are gaining support among Mindanao’s local Muslim population.

By taking on such a high-profile role in helping The Philippines in its fight against Islamist terrorism, Australia risks incurring the wrath of the vengeful jihadists, just as Britain, France and other countries have done because of their actions in the Middle East. The proximity of the threat posed to us by any breakout from Mindanao by the jihadists, however, reinforces the importance of our commitment to help Manila meet the challenge. Our role is also essential given the animosity of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte towards his country’s traditional ally, the US, and uncertainty about the Trump administration’s commitment to the region at a time of “America First”. Ensuring Manila’s armed forces are able to deal decisively with future Islamist insurgencies is imperative, not only for Australia but also for Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and New Zealand. Others should follow Australia’s lead.