Combating piracy and maritime terrorism: Strategic response of ASEAN

The 21st century has witnessed an increased volume of world trade which in turn reflects the enhancing dependence on sea routes for the transaction and terms of trade. A global multi-dimensional threat perception has emerged on the geopolitical map of sea lanes of communication due to vast sea routes and the presence of a significant number of failed states like Somalia, Yemen, and Ethiopia. Al Qaeda's terror strike on the USS Cole in Gulf of Aden and 9/11 terrorist attack proved that maritime terrorism has emerged as one of the most lethal non-traditional security threats. Pirates are largely used by the terrorist organizations i.e. Al Qaeda and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in each part of the world to get financial benefits out of their successful operations. This research paper aims to investigate the implications of maritime terrorism on the sea route surrounded to ASEAN countries. The entire Southeast Asia has witnessed a number of unilateral, bilateral and multilateral efforts to achieve a stable and a peaceful environment in their region. The principal objective of this work is to examine the current status, emerging dimensions of maritime terrorism and to highlight the issues of regional cooperation in this area. ASEAN's response to dealing and coping with this menace will be the prime focus of this paper.