https://arab.news/72tsw
- More than 5,000 soldiers join expanded 2022 Garuda Shield combined exercises
- 14 countries, including Australia and Japan, involved, with France, UK and India sending observers
JAKARTA: Indonesia and the US on Wednesday launched their biggest-ever joint military exercises, and were joined for the first time by troops from partner nations in what commanders said is a move to strengthen unity in the Indo-Pacific region.
The 鈥淪uper Garuda Shield鈥� exercises, which were first held in 2007 with only Indonesian and US troops involved, have expanded to include 12 other countries this year.
Defense forces from Australia, Japan and Singapore are taking part in the drills, while India, France and the UK are sending observers.
More than 5,000 soldiers are involved in the two-week exercises in East Kalimantan, South Sumatra and Riau Islands that are aimed at increasing joint military effectiveness, the Indonesian military said in a statement.
鈥淲e hope the exercises will go smoothly and everyone can deepen their bonds and interactions, so that this friendship will go on even after our exercises conclude and might be helpful in the future,鈥� Indonesia鈥檚 military chief Gen. Andika Perkasa said at the opening ceremony in Baturaja, South Sumatra, on Wednesday.
Although the joint combat exercises are taking place amid increasing Chinese maritime activity in the region, particularly in the disputed South China Sea, Perkasa told reporters that the drills should not be seen as a response to Beijing鈥檚 growing assertiveness.
鈥淲e have been conducting these exercises annually, in whatever situation,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat creates peace in our region is not (military) might but the bonds that we share by working together regularly, exercising, getting used to meeting one another as neighbors 鈥� that鈥檚 what makes us stronger.鈥�
Commanding General of US Army Pacific, Gen. Charles Flynn, said that this year鈥檚 Garuda Shield is an expression of 鈥渦nity鈥� as a group of countries 鈥渟eek to continue to have a free and open Indo-Pacific.鈥�
He added: 鈥淲hen we鈥檙e together like this, we鈥檙e stronger. When we鈥檙e working together, we become better joint partners.鈥�
The Indonesia-US military exercises coincided with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi鈥檚 visit to Taiwan as the highest-ranking American official in 25 years to visit the self-ruled island. Beijing described the visit as 鈥渁 gross interference in China鈥檚 internal affairs鈥� amid fresh tensions in the region.
The joint military drills signal Indonesia鈥檚 position on balancing engagement with major powers, Muhammad Waffaa Kharisma, a researcher from the Jakarta-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Arab News.
鈥淚t鈥檚 strategically timely, although likely not exactly on purpose, in that it is conducted around dynamics like China鈥檚 possible increased assertiveness around the Taiwanese strait,鈥� Kharisma said.
鈥淥f course, the signal is not necessarily straight about deterring China, but more about that Indonesia also has ties with other powers,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e are not leaning toward any power in particular and stand on our own interest to preserve regional peace.鈥�
Ahmad Rizky Mardhatillah Umar, an Indonesian international relations researcher at the University of Queensland, Australia, said that the expansion of Garuda Shield this year reflects a common interest among participants to address any potential crisis and security challenges.
The joint military drills are part of Indonesia鈥檚 attempts to involve itself in maintaining regional security and defense diplomacy efforts, Umar said.
鈥淲e need to acknowledge that regional security threat is not only about China and its expansive maritime territorial claim, but also non-traditional security threats like terrorism.鈥�