This content was originally published by Radio Free Asia, and it is now licensed for reprint.
As the United States attempts to control China’s influence in the region and Indonesia tries to strengthen its relationships, troops from Indonesia and the United States are participating in monthly Super Garuda Shield military activities on the island of Java along with delegations from eight different regions.
Immediately, 5, 500 soldiers from the 10 countries are participating while 12 different countries, mostly in the Asia-Pacific place, have sent spectators to the war games in Sidoarjo, East Java state, according to the U. S.  , Indo-Pacific Command.  ,
In November 2023, the United States and Indonesia signed a fresh defence cooperation agreement as part of a strategy to combat Beijing’s effect in the area. The , Pentagon , said Super Garuda Shield had support in” solidifying the U. S. Indonesia significant security agreement and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific”.
The Indonesian government said the training, which runs from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6, serves as a system for developing trust and confidence among participating forces.
” Super Garuda Shield in 2024 is a means to create and build mutual confidence in the military business, develop diplomatic military-to-military relationships, and international relationships”, said Air Marshal Widyargo Ikoputra, deputy chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Education and Training Command.
A U. S. force of 2, 500 company members is joining around 3, 000 forces from Indonesia, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.
As well as representatives from Thailand, representatives from Malaysia and the Philippines, which both have regional issues with China over areas of the South China Sea, may be monitoring the practice.
Super Garuda Shield aims to enhance the ability to plan and execute combined activities, improve connectivity between Indonesian and U. S. troops, and facilitate cooperation across all regions, including land, water, air, and cybersecurity, Indonesia said.  ,
A computer exercise may be part of the 2024 drills to prepare the militaries for digital threats. In recent years, Indonesia has been the target of numerous significant attacks that have affected several government services.
Khairul Fahmi, a military spectator from the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies, stated in a statement to BenarNews, an internet of Radio Free Asia, that” Indonesia gains from this mutual training as it provides an opportunity to increase security power.
At the same time, Indonesia is playing a vital part in maintaining independence and preventing increase in the region,  , Fahmi , said.
Legislation of non-alignment
While Super Garuda Shield demonstrated a deeper security relationship with the United States, Indonesia was even attempting to develop relationships with various partners, according to another researcher, Abdul Rahman Yaacob, a study fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney.
During a visit to Australia by Indonesia’s incoming president, Prabowo Subianto, the two sides announced that they had finalized a “historic” treaty-level joint defense agreement that would allow more ambitious joint military exercises, according to , Australian media.
This week, Indonesian Army Chief of Staff Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak said in an interview with , Japan’s Nikkei , that a joint exercise with China might also start next year.
” Indonesia’s strategic culture is to emphasize non-alignment in dealings with major powers, maintaining defense engagements with various partners, and avoiding military alliances”, Yaacob said.
” Every ASEAN country has their own dynamics”, the analyst told RFA, referring to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian nations.
Yaacob cautioned that Indonesia must be cautious in developing defense ties with China in order to prevent miscommunication between the United States and its allies as well as Indonesia’s neighbors, who are embroiled in territorial disputes with China over claims to the South China Sea.
The Garuda Shield exercise started in 2006 as a collaboration between the United States and Indonesia.
