Obama proposes $5bn Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund

The US President Barack Obama has proposed a $5bn Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund (CTPF) to assist other countries handle the increasing terrorism and extremism challenges across the globe.

Stressing the importance of non-military options in dealing with the world’s challenges, as well as collective international action, Obama noted that the funding would allow them to train, build capacity, and facilitate partner nations on the front lines.

The fund would add vital resources to offer flexibility to diverse missions such as training security forces in Yemen; support a multinational force maintain peace in Somalia; work mutually with European allies to train a working security force and border patrol in Libya; and assist French operations in Mali.

"A critical focus of this effort will be the ongoing crisis in Syria," Obama said.

"As frustrating as it is, there are no easy answers, no military solution that can eliminate the terrible suffering any time soon."

Further, the fund would also allow the US Department of Defense (DoD) to enhance and spread out counterterrorism training; support other nations’ efforts; and join forces with the State Department to assist stable governments globally in their attempts to offset brutal extremism and terrorist principles.

"So with the additional resources I’m announcing today, we will step up our efforts to support Syria’s neighbors — Jordan and Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq — as they contend with refugees and confront terrorists working across Syria’s borders," Obama added.

"We will continue to coordinate with our friends and allies in Europe and the Arab world to push for a political resolution of this crisis and to make sure that those countries, and not just the United States, are contributing their fair share to support the Syrian people."

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