Indonesia-US: 4,700 Soldiers Mobilized for Super Garuda Shield Exercises

Monday 31 August 2026 - 08:47

Indonesia, the United States, and several of their partners launched a new edition of the joint military exercises "Super Garuda Shield" on Monday, an annual event aimed at improving the interoperability of participating forces and strengthening defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.

Organized for nearly two decades, this year's maneuvers bring together approximately 4,700 military personnel from Indonesia, the United States, and a dozen other countries, including France and the United Kingdom. The operations are set to continue until September 11 across several Indonesian sites, notably on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

An Exercise Focused on Operational Capabilities

The program includes various training sessions designed to prepare participating forces for crisis situations. Special units will notably participate in infiltration exercises, while segments will be dedicated to cyber defense.

According to Patrick J. Ellis, commander of the 4th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, these maneuvers are intended to help build the human networks necessary for the security of the Indo-Pacific. He also believes that the complexity of the regional strategic environment necessitates the development of operational capabilities before a potential crisis arises.

The official launch of the exercises took place at a military school in Bandung, east of Jakarta. Italy and Thailand are also participating in the event as observers.

Jakarta Between Washington and Beijing

Beyond their military dimension, the "Super Garuda Shield" exercises illustrate Indonesia's unique position in the Asian strategic landscape. Jakarta claims a "free and active" foreign policy, rooted in its historical role in the non-aligned movement.

This orientation leads the archipelago to simultaneously maintain relations with the two major powers in the region, the United States and China, despite their growing rivalries.

Security cooperation between Jakarta and Washington has indeed strengthened in recent months. In April, the two countries elevated their defense relations to the status of a "major defense cooperation partnership."

Comprehensive Military Cooperation

However, Indonesia does not limit its joint military exercises to its Western partners. The country also conducted naval maneuvers with China earlier this month, an initiative deemed a "provocation" by Taiwan.

Other exercises are scheduled later this year with Beijing under the "Heping Garuda" framework. This recurring program will notably focus on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief operations, and military cooperation.

This multiplication of partnerships reflects Jakarta's desire to maintain strategic flexibility while developing its defense capabilities.

The Indo-Pacific at the Heart of Concerns

With the "Super Garuda Shield," Indonesia thus confirms its growing role in the security arrangements of the Asia-Pacific. The participation of several military powers and the integration of elements focused on special forces and cyberspace testify to the evolution of the threats considered by the armies in the region.

For Jakarta, the challenge now is to strengthen its operational capabilities without renouncing its diplomatic tradition of balance. A strategy that allows it to multiply cooperations, both with Washington and with Beijing, in an increasingly rivalry-marked regional environment.