Australia, U.K. in global terrorism talks

Rising concerns about the emergence of new centers of global terrorism in Somalia and Yemen were a main focus of Monday’stalks between Australian and British foreign and defense ministers.

“Key concerns will be cyber-security and some of the new and emerging centers of global terrorism, particularly in the Horn of Africa,” AUKMIN sources told the Australian. “We increasingly have offshoots to al-Qa’ida operating from Yemen across the Red Sea to the Horn of Africa.

“Quite apart from lawlessness and piracy and broader security concerns, al Qaeda is developing much more of a base for operations in those parts of the world.”

Those concerns were leading to increased intelligence co-operation between Britain and Australia. It is understood a new defense co-operation pact between the United Kingdom and Australia will be signed during the summit.

The Australian reports that the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia are already engaged in hi-tech research on measures to reduce the threat to computer and communications systems posed by cyber crime and cyber warfare.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Defense Minister Stephen Smith met their U.K. counterparts, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Defense Secretary Liam Fox, at the naval base HMAS Watson in Sydney.

Rudd told the Australian the talks would cover progress towards local control of security in Afghanistan, the war’s impact on neighboring Pakistan, broader counter-terrorism strategy and nuclear proliferation.

They would also cover the changing power dynamics of Asia, including the region’s emerging security architecture, the role of China and India, continuing tensions on the Korean peninsula and the new security challenges of space and cyber security.

“All emotional connections to one side, the Australia-U.K. relationship is of continued concrete importance to both countries because of our common values and common interests,” Rudd said.

Australian and British troops were operating in southern Afghanistan, which was historically one of the most violent parts of the country, and ministers would compare notes on progress there.

The AUKMIN talks will be followed by a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna, where the future of the expanded East Asia Summit as a forum to discuss key regional issues would be a key feature.

Rudd said Australia and India shared important common interests, including freedom of navigation across the Indian Ocean and on key lines of communication into and out of the Persian Gulf. Both countries were concerned about challenges to that freedom from piracy and potentially from terrorism.

The summit and the meeting with Krishna were not likely to produce major announcements.