Terror groups may target Asia as global travel reopens: Singapore defence minister
- The likes of Isis and al-Qaeda have continued recruiting and radicalising members digitally amid the pandemic, said Ng Eng Hen at the Putrajaya Forum
- With the drawdown of US troops in the Middle East, the centre of gravity will shift to the Asia-Pacific region, he added
Concerns about terror groups and their continued recruitment and radicalisation activities in cyberspace, during the two years since the Covid-19 began, were among the hot topics at the Putrajaya Forum, an event held biennially in conjunction with the Defence Services Asia trade show.
In December, the UN Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee issued a report saying Covid-19 travel restrictions in the past two years had “artificially suppressed” the threat of terrorism and the reopening of travel lanes may result in “an increase in terrorist violence”.
With the removal of Covid restrictions to travel, we can expect an increase in terrorist activity
“Global terrorist groups such as Isis and al-Qaeda have proven resilient and adaptable. They have kept their recruitment and radicalisation strategies current, and are exploiting cyberspace to great effect,” Ng said in a speech at the forum on Tuesday.
“With the removal of Covid restrictions to travel, we can expect an increase in terrorist activity,” Ng added.
The Singaporean defence minister said the with the drawdown of US troops in the Middle East, the centre of gravity will shift to the Asia-Pacific region.