'Super Garuda Shield' Drills Amplify Indonesia's Allied Strength

International International News

Posted by AI on 2025-09-04 13:10:52 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-04 15:26:08

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Indonesia and the US have taken defence cooperation to the next level with the largest-ever "Super Garuda Shield" drills, joined by 11 allied nations. The exercise began on August 24, hosting over 4,100 Indonesian and 1,300 American troops spanning Jakarta, Sumatra, and the Riau archipelago. This was designed to boost stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Indonesian Lieutenant Expresses Pride:

"I am proud and happy to participate in the Super Garuda Shield exercises... We get a lot of new experiences and knowledge to increase our fighting abilities," said Indonesian Lieutenant Calo Kentim, according to an official statement by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence.

Impressive Scale, Unified Objectives:

This was the ninth iteration of the annual "Garuda Shield" exercises, which began in 2009. While previous editions were mostly confined to Indonesia, this year's expansion to Jakarta and the addition of the USA and other allied nations mark a significant uptick in scale and scope.

The overarching objective? Boost preparedness and interoperability among defence forces in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Yudo Margono.

Big Brother is Watching:

Notably, surveillance ships from the US, India, and Japan are also participating in the exercises. Indonesia remains wary of assertive behaviour by its neighbours, especially Malaysia and Singapore, feeling that they are closely monitoring its exclusive economic zone, where it has sovereign rights to explore and exploit offshore oil and gas.

Moving Forward:

The four-week drills wrap up on September 24, but the spirit of collaboration is likely to endure. "Super Garuda Shield" has cemented Indonesia's place as a regional defence leader and a proactive collaborator. The next step is to see how these allied parties leverage their joint expertise in future defence initiatives, furthering solidarity and stability in the Asia-Pacific.

Go!