United States promotes informal multilateral counterterrorism mechanism.

• Author: Crook, John R.

The United States is increasingly utilizing informal processes and institutions, rather than established public international organizations having international legal personality, to pursue significant foreign policy goals. One such institution is the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), which in December 2012 held a ministerial-level plenary session in Abu Dhabi. (1) The Forum "aims to help countries around the world enhance their capacities--and especially those of their civilian institutions--to meet the terrorist threats within their borders and regions." (2) Following is a substantial excerpt from a fact sheet describing GCTF as issued by its cochairs, Turkey and the United States:

What: The GCTF is an informal, multilateral counterterrorism (CT) platform that focuses on identifying critical civilian CT needs, mobilizing the necessary expertise and resources to address such needs and enhance global cooperation. Launched by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on 22 September 2011, the Forum, with its 30 founding members (29 countries and the EU), regularly convenes key CT policymakers and practitioners from nations around the world, as well as experts from the United Nations and other multilateral bodies. It aims to strengthen the international architecture for addressing 21st century terrorism and promotes a strategic, long-term approach to dealing with the threat. The Forum identifies urgent needs, devises solutions, and mobilizes resources for addressing key CT challenges facing civilian institutions. With its primary focus on countering violent extremism and strengthening criminal justice and other rule of law institutions that deal with terrorism, the GCTF aims to diminish terrorist recruitment and increase countries' capabilities for dealing with terrorist threats within their borders and regions.

Who: The 30 founding members of the GCTF are: Algeria, Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Structure: The GCTF consists of a strategic-level Coordinating Committee, co-chaired initially by the United States and Turkey; five thematic and regional expert-driven working groups; and a small administrative...