Indonesia and the United States have begun a series of joint military drills that will run for over a week, with participation from 11 allied nations. The exercises are intended to promote stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
The annual maneuvers, known as “Super Garuda Shield,” are being conducted in Jakarta, Sumatra, and the Riau Islands, and will continue until September 4.
This year’s drills feature more than 4,100 Indonesian soldiers and 1,300 US troops, alongside contingents from Australia, Japan, Singapore, France, New Zealand, Britain, and other partner countries.
While the US and allies such as Australia have voiced concern about China’s growing influence in the Pacific, officials in Washington have stressed that the exercise is focused on strengthening regional defense cooperation rather than targeting Beijing.
