Indonesia, US and allies launch annual military drill

Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces General Agus Subiyanto gestures along with officials and military personnel of participating nations during the opening ceremony of Super Garuda Shield, an annual joint military exercise involving Indonesia, US, and several other nations, in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, on Monday, August 31, 2026. -- Photo: REUTERS/Claudio Pramana

BANDUNG, Indonesia (AFP): Indonesia, the United States and more than a dozen allies launched annual joint military exercises Monday to boost defence capabilities and "deter aggression" in the Asia-Pacific region.

Jakarta maintains a neutral foreign policy, what it calls "free and active," as it walks a diplomatic tightrope seeking good relations with both Washington and Beijing.

The Southeast Asian giant held a joint navy drill with China this month that was blasted by Taiwan as a "provocation".

Indonesia, the United States and certain allies have taken part in the annual drills, known as "Super Garuda Shield", for nearly two decades.

This year's edition will entail 4,700 soldiers from countries including Britain, France and Japan, drilling in several locations including Sumatra and Borneo islands until September 11.

East Timor, Italy, Thailand and other nations have sent observers.

Patrick J. Ellis, commander of the US Fourth Infantry Division, said the exercise was critical for "building the human architecture that keeps the Indo-Pacific safe."

"The security landscape of the Indo-Pacific is complex, and readiness cannot be surged when a crisis begins," he said at a military school in Bandung, east of Jakarta, where the drills officially kicked off.

The exercises will include special forces infiltration training and cyber defence drills, Ellis added.

Major General Patrick J. Ellis from the US Fourth Infantry Division (left) talks with Colonel Dave Gandy, Australian Military Attache to Indonesia (2nd L) after the Super Garuda Shield 2026 Joint Exercise opening ceremony in Bandung, West Java, on Monday, August 31, 2026. 4,700 soldiers from 21 countries' armed forces participated in the Super Garuda Shield 2026 Joint Exercise, which is held in several locations, including Sumatra and Borneo islands. -- Photo by TIMUR MATAHARI / AFP

Indonesia elevated its defence cooperation with the United States to that of a "Major Defence Cooperation Partnership" in April.

Ellis said Monday that was a testament to the role of the world's third-largest democracy as a "vital anchor to regional stability".

China's foreign and defence ministers travelled to Indonesia this month for talks with their counterparts, agreeing on greater political and military cooperation.

Later this year, the two countries will hold their own joint military exercises under "Heping Garuda" -- a recurring drill focused on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and military-to-military cooperation.

Indonesia joined the BRICS bloc of emerging economies last year that includes Russia and China.

But President Prabowo Subianto has also signed a trade deal with US President Donald Trump and joined his so-called "Board of Peace". -- AP