In a demonstration of Indo-Pacific solidarity, Super Garuda Shield 2025 opened in late August in Jakarta, marking the largest iteration of the Indonesia-United States defense exercise. Featuring 6,500 troops from more than a dozen countries, including Australia, India and Japan, the annual drills underscore a growing emphasis on joint readiness, interoperability and strategic alignment among regional powers.
The 10-day exercise is “a platform of trust, a bridge of friendship, and a shining beacon of our shared commitment to maintain peace and stability,” Gen. Tandyo Budi Revita, deputy commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), said during the opening ceremony.
Encompassing several locations in Indonesia, the exercise’s expanded geographic and strategic scope reflects the complexities of the region’s evolving security environment. Land warfare, maritime security, cyber defense and humanitarian assistance are pillars of the drills.
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said the exercise is a testament to enduring military relationships built “across all domains — whether air, land, sea, space, cyber or information.” He noted that “if an unforgiving moment comes, when we meet each other as partners, we pick up the phone and start operating from a foundation of close trust.”
Indonesian officials highlighted Super Garuda Shield’s importance as a proving ground for the nation’s defense modernization. The TNI views the exercise as “both a rehearsal and a laboratory, letting TNI refine the technical, procedural and human aspects of coalition warfare before those skills are needed under the real pressures of crisis or conflict,” Maj. Gen. Kristomei Sianturi, chief of the Indonesian Army’s Information Services, told FORUM.
The 2025 drills in Baturaja in South Sumatra focus on large-scale land operations and urban warfare, while Dabo Singkep in the Riau Islands province is hosting amphibious and maritime security drills aimed at countering gray-zone threats. “Together, these scenarios signal that Indonesia is preparing its forces for a full spectrum of contingencies,” Kristomei said, adding that the TNI is “enhancing readiness to operate seamlessly with regional partners.”
The emphasis on joint operational capacity is underpinned by planning and procedural alignment. Kristomei noted that “pre-exercise workshops, liaison officer exchanges and standardized operating procedures are in place to make sure that when the exercise begins, every participant … can coordinate in real time.”
There are significant logistical and technical challenges to integrating diverse defense forces, which may operate with different weapons systems and platforms. Pudji Astuti, an analyst with Indonesia’s Defense Ministry, said that interoperability is a central goal. “Whether from the Navy, Air Force or Army, ground-to-air communication, for example, can be done via a dedicated phone system with synchronized frequencies,” she told FORUM.
Indonesia is adapting its strategic posture to its archipelagic geography and emerging maritime challenges. “Indonesia needs to strengthen its naval defenses,” Astuti said. “Our large islands like Kalimantan, Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi can serve as ‘carriers,’ with ships stationed along their coasts.”
Super Garuda Shield reflects Indonesia’s commitment to regional stability through cooperation. “By hosting and leading one of the region’s largest multinational drills, Indonesia sends a clear message: We are ready to work with friends and partners to keep our seas open, our region stable and our people safe,” Kristomei said.
Leaders said the 2025 iteration not only will sharpen combat readiness but also will solidify regional partnerships. “Let us carry out this exercise wholeheartedly … demonstrating the best discipline and professionalism,” Tandyo said. “This exercise is about how we build the foundation of peace through unity and mutual respect.”
