The Indonesian and Philippine navies have launched a joint patrol in their maritime border of Sulawesi and Mindanao waters to strengthen their capabilities against piracy and terrorism, the spokesperson of the Indonesian navy said on June 30.

Building trust to encourage peace dialogues and compromise is key to dealing with complex marine security challenges which are threatening trade networks, said Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore Chan Chun Sing.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has been ranked among the top 20 world’s most influential Muslim figures in the annual publication The Muslim 500 published by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre based in Jordan.

Defence officials from member countries of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) discussed outstanding regional security issues at the ASEAN Security Policy Conference that opened in Manila on June 29.

The Governments of the Philippines and Indonesia have agreed to step up cooperation in ensuring maritime security to fight against piracy conducted by extremists on the joint waters.

The Philippines on November 10 agreed to allow Malaysia and Indonesia to carry out pursuits of Abu Sayyaf insurgents in its territorial waters.

The Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to step up cooperation to curb piracy, smuggling and other crimes in the Sulu Sea, the border area common to the three countries.

Foreign ministers and military chiefs from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines will gather in Indonesia on May 5 to discuss increased maritime security amid rising piracy in the region.

An Indonesian transport official has said ships travelling from the country's Borneo Island to the Philippines need to have an armed escort as piracy in the waters is escalating.