• Says civil maritime threat environment has deteriorated over last two years 
• Notes SLCG is a professional organisation, and multi-agency relationship with SL on maritime law enforcement remains ‘gold standard’   

As neighbours in the Indian Ocean, Australia and Sri Lanka share a close relationship in the vast blue expanse between the countries, keeping both nations safe and secure. Over the last two decades, Australian law enforcement and their Sri Lankan counterparts have built a proven relationship, called the ‘gold standard,’ on preventing cross-border trafficking and smuggling, with Australian authorities stating that no Sri Lankan boat has been intercepted since 2024 carrying persons to their shores through illegal means.

Australia’s robust border security apparatus, headed by R. Adm. Brett Sonter of the Royal Australian Navy, who is the Commander of Joint Agency Task Force – Operation Sovereign Borders and the Australian Maritime Border Command, has been helping Sri Lanka build capacity in the maritime law enforcement field.

Following a recent visit to Colombo, where he donated drones to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) to improve its situational awareness and coastal security, The Sunday Morning caught up with R. Adm. Sonter for an interview on how maritime law enforcement challenges have evolved and the close links between both countries to keep the Indian Ocean safe and secure.

Following are excerpts:

How have the challenges the Australian Border Force (ABF) faced in carrying out its duties evolved since 2024? Has the threat landscape changed significantly? 

The past two years have seen the civil maritime threat environment deteriorate. Specifically, there has been an increase in frequency, as well as a conflation of threats.

From the ABF’s perspective, what are your top concerns for the Indian Ocean and the Pacific? Of those concerns, which are common concerns that impact Sri Lanka, in your view?

My main concerns are related to my previous comment. Specifically, the increase in frequency of movement of controlled drugs, human trafficking and people smuggling, and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Whilst I can’t confirm it, I would assume that some of these threats also affect Sri Lanka.

The ABF maintains close links with Sri Lankan law enforcement authorities. Are you satisfied with the ongoing bilateral cooperation, and will there be a formalised framework for future cooperation between both countries?

I am very satisfied with the strong relationship and bilateral cooperation between the Australian Border Force and Sri Lankan law enforcement authorities in terms of civil maritime security; it is the gold standard. We have a very mature relationship based on people smuggling, which is evolving into other civil maritime threats. 

Have any Sri Lankan boats or citizens been detected or intercepted making an illegal journey by sea to Australia since 2024 to date? If not, what do you attribute that success to?

No, there have not been any. I put this down to very good information sharing, collaboration, and cooperation.

Can you briefly describe the Memorandum of Understanding that the ABF and Sri Lanka are discussing? What does it entail?

It is too early to talk about this in detail. My recent visit to Sri Lanka highlighted once again our strong bond in terms of civil maritime security. It was the seventh time I have visited Sri Lanka during my tenure as Commander of the Joint Agency Task Force – Operation Sovereign Borders.

While the Sri Lanka Navy has played a pivotal role in preventing maritime crime and trafficking in the Indian Ocean, from a legal perspective, it is the SLCG which is best empowered to enforce laws to prevent maritime crime. What are your thoughts about the SLCG, and do you feel it has a bigger role to play?

The SLCG is a very professional organisation and a good partner to the ABF. Its role is a matter for the Government of the Republic of Sri Lanka.

What are the current training opportunities offered to Sri Lankan personnel by the ABF?

The ABF provides a range of training to Sri Lankan personnel in areas such as leadership, trade-based money laundering, and English language training; tuition to support the operation of gifted equipment; post-graduate maritime legal studies; and workshops on maritime domain awareness.

Is the ABF actively cooperating with other Sri Lankan enforcement agencies, such as Immigration, to improve border control?

Yes, the ABF actively shares knowledge, equipment, and training with both Immigration and Customs, and maintains robust working relationships with agencies associated with the border such as the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the Ministry of Defence’s Border Risk Assessment Centre (BRAC). The ABF also works with its partner the Australian Federal Police to liaise with Sri Lanka’s law enforcement agencies.

Last time you were in Colombo, you donated equipment to local agencies. Will there be any such handover of kit or services during this visit?

Yes, I was happy to hand over some more drones during my visit. During the visit, I was exposed to a demonstration on how the SLCG uses drones to deny threats. I was very impressed by this display. 

The Australian Government recently donated a patrol vessel to the Maldives (the first such donation of the class of vessels outside the Pacific). Does this mean that Australia is keen to build maritime law enforcement capacity in South and Southwest Asia? If so, why? Is the region a concern for the ABF?

The region is a focus for Australia. The Indian Ocean region has always been vitally important to Australia. Australia will continue to invest in regional resilience.

The Australian Government has issued a follow-up order for two more Evolved Cape-class vessels for the ABF to a shipyard. What can you share about the ABF’s growth in the coming year, especially as Australia seems to be recalibrating its security posture – and especially in the maritime sphere?

The ABF looks forward to accepting its first Evolved Cape-class vessel into service. It will mark the transition to an increase in capability.

The ABF has destroyed multiple foreign fishing vessels which were found to have been involved in IUU fishing and other criminal activities. Do you view this tactic as a good deterrent measure?

We have found that where our law enables, the safe destruction of vessels in a manner consistent with environmental approvals enables a greater deterrent effect.

There has been an increase in the use of submersibles/low-observable craft in the Atlantic and Pacific for narcotics trafficking. Is the ABF concerned about such vessels and the possibility of unmanned or autonomous platforms being used for transnational smuggling?

The ABF is concerned with such submersibles and is working with partners to enable a greater awareness of this type of threat.

Will the ABF and Australia continue to help Sri Lanka, as an Indian Ocean neighbour, to build our maritime domain awareness and law enforcement capacity?

I refer back to previous comments; our relationship is strong, it is the ‘gold standard’. It is in Australia’s interest that our partnership continues to flourish.