TRANSNATIONAL COOPERATION ON ANTI-TERRORISM: A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY OF SAUDI ARABIA AND INDONESIA

Abstract

Most western security experts suggest that transnational cooperation on anti-terrorism, especially with predominantly Muslim countries, will significantly help control the violent groups, prone to using jihadi ideology against western targets in general and American targets in particular. Security cooperation with the oil rich Middle Eastern countries and the Muslim majority Southeast Asian nations are particularly important. In this backdrop, this paper investigates the policy actions of two Muslim majority countries—Saudi Arabia and Indonesia—in addressing the growing concerns about jihadi ideology and lax anti-terror regimes. It finds that the two countries Saudi Arabia and Indonesia —faced with the threats of international terrorism at home—are increasingly engaged in transnational anti-terrorism programs within bilateral and multilateral frameworks. In conclusion, the paper briefly discusses the theoretical and policy implications of such antiterrorism cooperation, and stresses the need for sustained policy attention and resource allocation for building a robust counterterrorism regime

Keywords

• Anti-terrorism, Intelligence & Law enforcement, Security Regime, Transnational Cooperation