Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have agreed to conduct coordinated patrols to combat sea piracy and contain the spread of the Islamic State (IS) group in the region.

Nationals of Malaysia and Indonesia have fallen victim to abductions by Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf militants.

The growing influence of IS in the region dominated discussions during the three countries’ Third Ministerial Defense Meeting in Bali on Tuesday, during which they agreed to expand maritime cooperation to not only prevent the Abu Sayyaf group from kidnapping sailors in the Sulu Sea, but also to tackle attempts to smuggle weapons for IS supporters in the region.

The pact allows military personnel from the three countries to enter each other’s waters to pursue kidnappers or terrorist groups, such as Abu Sayyaf, during a state of emergency, but under certain limitations outlined in the signed standard operational procedure (SOP) agreed upon during the meeting.

The patrol was inspired by best practices shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand in the Malacca Straits Patrol (MSP).

The maritime pact for the Sulu Sea will not use a joint patrol scheme because the regular presence of military personnel in a country’s waters could be seen as a threat and could be used as jurisprudence for other countries to push the three to open access to their seas in the future.

Under the coordinated patrol system, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines will guard their respective waters and will inform one another through a special communication line if a kidnapping takes place, to ensure swift action.

However, due to shared fears about Abu Sayyaf’s repetitive moves in Sulu waters, the three countries customized the agreed coordinated patrol system under the SOP by allowing military personnel to enter one another’s waters in a state of emergency, but with the prior knowledge of the invaded party.

The three countries have a shared understanding of the importance of allowing one another’s military personnel to pursue kidnappers and terrorist groups, but no official agreement has been reached on the issue yet because the Philippines still has objections to the proposed plan due to constitutional hindrances.

“We already have three joint command posts. One of them, which is important, is in Bongao [in the Philippines]. It is the main command post. If a problem occurs, the three defense ministers will gather there to discuss solutions to problems. Then, from the command post we will inform our respective personnel about the solution,” said Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu.

The three countries have also established safe routes guarded by military personnel for boats to ensure piracy and kidnapping do not happen in the future. The agreement also legalizes the use of sea marshals onboard ships passing their borders.

Philippine Defense Minister Delfin N. Lorenzana said IS was trying to recruit people in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, especially in the southern Philippines, the stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group, adding that Abu Sayyaf had repeatedly promoted IS in the country.

“We are launching a holistic approach to go against Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines. As we speak there are still hostages in the custody of the group. Our hearts go out to the families of the hostages. Our government will do everything we can to save them,” Lorenzana said.

Since March 24, a large number of Indonesians have been taken hostage by the group in four separate incidents, with 10 still being held. Dozens of other kidnapped foreign nationals are also still in Abu Sayyaf’s captivity.

“The IS threat is not something that we have seen before. From time to time we face al-Qaeda and Jamaah Islamiah. Threats [from terrorist groups] need to be countered collectively. That’s [why] we [have] come up with this joint agreement to secure our borders,” Malaysian Defense Minister Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said.

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