The annual “Super Garuda Shield” multinational joint exercise, centered around the United States and Indonesia, officially kicked off in Bandung, the capital of West Java Province, Indonesia on August 31st. This exercise, with a record-breaking participation of 15 countries covering land, sea, and air forces, involved nearly 5000 troops. It marks the first joint military exercise since the signing of a new defense partnership between the United States and Indonesia this year, aiming to enhance multi-domain interoperability and regional deterrence.
The exercise, which started on August 31st and will last until September 11th, includes not only the United States and Indonesia but also 13 other countries including Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. Additionally, countries like India, East Timor, Italy, and Thailand have sent observers.
Taking place in various regions of Indonesia, this year’s exercise features activities such as infiltration drills, Stinger missile launches, jungle warfare training, maritime maneuvers, and newly added anti-drone exercises.
Major General Patrick Ellis, the commander of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division, addressed the opening ceremony in Bandung, emphasizing the importance of the exercise in “establishing a human architecture to maintain security in the Indo-Pacific,” stating that “we are not just gathering for another annual training cycle, we are writing a historic new chapter in our bilateral relationship.”
The “Super Garuda Shield” military exercise began in 2007 as a bilateral army joint exercise between the United States and Indonesia. Over time, responding to changes in the regional security environment, the U.S. Air Force and Navy also joined the exercise. Since 2022, Japan and South Korea have also joined, expanding the exercise into a multilateral joint operation.
It is worth noting that the United States and Indonesia recently established an “Important Defense Cooperation Partnership” in April this year. Indonesian authorities have stated that the U.S. will support Indonesia in advancing military modernization and troop training.