The Indonesian Military has warned about the possibility of the Islamic State (IS) radical movement moving its base from the Middle East to Southeast Asia, posing a greater threat to Indonesian security

The Indonesian Military has warned about the possibility of the Islamic State (IS) radical movement moving its base from the Middle East to Southeast Asia, posing a greater threat to Indonesian security

The terrorist group had been building its Southeast Asian base in the southern part of the Philippines, which immediately borders Indonesia’s Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

The increasing number of abductions carried out by terrorist groups on seamen passing the water in the area has indicated that extremists have been collecting money to build a new center of operations.

The IS, whose movement was purely economic rather than ideologically driven, had begun to develop its Southeast Asian base because the lucrative energy source in the Middle East started to vanish.

They are moving to [the source of] other natural resources, namely sea and food, on the equator. That is why the southern Philippines has been chosen.

The Sulu Sea, located in the southwestern area of the Philippines, has long been a source of trouble, as the Abu Sayyaf militant group has repeatedly kidnapped sailors there, including those from Indonesia, in exchange for ransom. Abu Sayyaf has stated allegiance to the IS.