Indonesian, US troops begin 'Super Garuda Shield' joint drills

by AFP Staff Writers
Banyuwangi, Indonesia (AFP) Aug 31, 2023
Thousands of Indonesian and American troops began two weeks of joint exercises Thursday, joining allies from five countries in drills aimed at ensuring stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

The US and its Asian allies have expressed growing concern about China's increasing assertiveness in the Pacific, but Washington has said the drills are not aimed at any country.

The annual exercises known as Super Garuda Shield kicked off in Baluran, East Java, with more than 2,000 American troops taking part.

The Indonesian military said it deployed 2,800 troops to join the drills, which were opened at a Thursday morning ceremony by the country's military chief, Yudo Margono.

"Super Garuda Shield 2023 builds on last year's tremendous success," General Charles Flynn, commanding general of US Army Pacific, said in a statement.

"This joint, multinational training exercise displays our collective commitment and like-minded unity, allowing for a stable, secure, and more peaceful, free and open Indo-Pacific."

The two-week exercise will be held at multiple training locations in East Java and is being joined by participants from Australia, Japan, Singapore, France and Britain.

Training will include expert academic exchanges and professional development workshops, a command and control simulation, an amphibious exercise, airborne operations, and a simulated airfield seizure.

There will also be a combined joint field training that culminates with a live-fire event, the US embassy said in a statement.

Last year's exercises were held after Beijing staged unprecedented war games around Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory.

Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, South Korea, New Zealand, East Timor, Brunei and Papua New Guinea are participating in the exercise as observer nations.

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Artificial Intelligence Analysis

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Analyst

Summary

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The annual Super Garuda Shield military exercises, held on Thursday in Baluran, East Java, involve troops from the United States, Indonesia, Australia, Japan, Singapore, France, and Britain. The exercises are designed to promote stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region, and to demonstrate a collective commitment to peace and free access in the region. The two-week exercise includes a variety of activities, such as academic exchanges, professional development workshops, command and control simulations, airborne operations, and a simulated airfield seizure. Additionally, there are a number of observer nations, such as Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, South Korea, New Zealand, East Timor, Brunei, and Papua New Guinea.

This exercise is reflective of the growing concern of China’s increasing assertiveness in the Pacific, and is an attempt to demonstrate the collective commitment to stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region. Over the past 25 years, the United States and its allies have attempted to counter the growing influence of China in the region, but have been largely unsuccessful. This exercise highlights the need for a unified approach to tackling the challenges posed by China in the region, and underscores the importance of further cooperation between the US and its allies.

Investigative

Question:

• 1. What kind of impact will the Super Garuda Shield military exercises have on regional stability?

• 2. What other measures can the US and its allies take to counter China’s increasing assertiveness in the Pacific?

• 3.

How will the observer nations benefit from participating in the exercise?

4. How have the defense and security strategies of the US and its allies evolved over the past 25 years?

5. How can the US and its allies work together to ensure freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region?

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