ISIS Called A 'Great Threat' To Australia And France As Leaders Forge Counter-Terrorism Agreement

Australia and France are expected to strengthen their cooperation in fighting ISIS and other groups engaged in terrorism. The announcement came after French President Francois Hollande and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott met in Paris for the international conference of judges against terror.

As part of an agreement, both countries will exchange counter-terrorism police officers in a new program to improve national security in France and Australia. The two countries have formed a closer bond after terror attacks in Paris’ Charlie Hebdo and Sydney’s Martin Place.

Mr Abbott and Mr Hollande discussed ways on how to improve cooperation on national security and address the threat of foreign fighters. In a joint statement, the two leaders said ISIS is “significant threat to global security” and to Australia and France. The leaders know all too well about the challenges Australia and France both face on national security.

Both countries had agreed to take new steps including the law enforcement exchange progam and a deeper cooperation between Australian and French intelligence services. Mr Abbott shared updates with Mr Hollande on the deployment of Australian troops to the Taji military complex north of Baghdad in Iraq to fight ISIS. The two leaders also discussed the possibility of an agreement on the nuclear program of Iran and the situation in Syria, reports The Age.

In early January, gunmen killed 17 people in the offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket. French authorities revealed last week that they had foiled a terror attack on at least one church. USA Today reports that six planned attacks have been stopped in France since 2013.

At least 110 Australians are reportedly in Iraq and Syria to join ISIS, while French officials believe that about 3,000 of its citizens have ties to the militants. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said ISIS and other violent terror groups have become a greater threat to world order than communism.

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