US, Indonesia Begin Multinational Military Drills With 4,700 Personnel
The US and Indonesia have launched their annual Super Garuda Shield military exercise, bringing together more than 4,700 personnel, Reuters reported.
The drills will run through September 11 across several locations in Indonesia.
Thirteen countries are participating, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Canada.
Training will include airborne infiltration, Stinger surface-to-air missile firing, jungle operations, naval maneuvers, and cyber defense.
Participating forces will also conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief training as Indonesia faces the aftermath of a deadly earthquake and widespread wildfires.
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara killed more than 100 people in August, while fires burned nearly 95,000 hectares (234,750 acres) across the country in July.
Expanding Military Ties
The exercise comes as Jakarta expands military cooperation with several regional and international partners.
In July, Indonesia and Singapore announced plans to establish three joint military training areas at sites across the archipelago.
In May, Jakarta and Tokyo formalized closer defense ties, opening the way for expanded joint training, maritime collaboration, and defense-industrial cooperation.
That same month, Indonesia became the first international customer for Turkey’s Bayraktar Kizilelma combat drone under an agreement with manufacturer Baykar.
The deal covers 12 aircraft for delivery beginning in 2028, with options for 48 more and plans to establish local production and support facilities.
These moves followed an April agreement to strengthen US-Indonesia defense ties through a framework covering military modernization, troop training, professional military education, and operational cooperation.
The two sides also discussed a Washington request for broader access to Indonesian airspace.
Jakarta said the proposal was separate from the agreement and remained subject to technical discussions and national approval procedures.
