Annual Garuda Shield military exercise in Indonesia biggest ever
FORUM Staff
The 16th iteration of Garuda Shield, featuring military branches from Indonesia, the United States and other Indo-Pacific nations, was significantly larger in scope and scale than the 15 previous versions of the yearly military exercise designed to advance regional cooperation and interoperability.
Service members from Australia, Japan and Singapore joined the two-week exercise in early August 2022 at Indonesia’s Baturaja Training Area in Amborawang and Batam Island Training Area. Representatives of Canada, France, India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Timor-Leste and the United Kingdom observed the proceedings.
Many nations participated or observed for the first time. The 2022 exercise, dubbed Super Garuda Shield, came as Indo-Pacific partners and allies face increased provocations in the region by the People’s Republic of China.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Stephen G. Smith, who directed ground operations, rejected any contention the series of drills was a response to rising regional tensions, according to Reuters. “This exercise is not a threat or should not be viewed as a threat to anybody, anywhere,” he said.
Garuda Shield involved about 2,000 Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel and 2,000 U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) service members, along with the partner nations’ participants and observers. Indonesia’s Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and special operations forces were there, along with the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Army, and Special Operations Command. (Pictured: Indonesian Soldiers conduct a live hoist training during Super Garuda Shield in early August 2022.)
Garuda Shield demonstrates the growing partnership between Indonesia and the U.S., according to the U.S. State Department. Indonesia is the world’s third largest democracy, largest Muslim-majority country, has the largest economy in Southeast Asia and is a leader of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The larger scale and extended participation of the 2022 exercise was a “calculated decision” by Jakarta, said Satya Pratama, a senior Indonesian government official and maritime defense analyst, according to Radio Free Asia. “The point is to show that Indonesia can cooperate with whoever she wants,” Pratama told the news service.
“I’m proud to see how Garuda Shield has grown since last year,” said Gen. Charles Flynn, commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific, according to a news release by the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Indonesia. “Bringing our forces together like this, we stitch the fabric of regional security into something lasting.”
The exchanges were designed to advance cooperation and interoperability, enhance military responsiveness and effectiveness, and promote community wellness and infrastructure.
Garuda Shield 2022 featured training for amphibious operations, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and counterterrorism. Participants analyzed military operations in urban settings and conducted an air defense exercise, airborne operations and an airfield seizure exercise. Humanitarian and civic assistance projects focused on providing health care, and troops renovated facilities in provincial areas.
A command post exercise enabled Indonesian and U.S. troops to cooperatively plan and communicate in a simulated operational environment. Athletic competitions built camaraderie among the nations’ service members.
Garuda Shield is one of many recurring bilateral and multilateral exercises to support a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. Others are Balikatan, Keen Edge, La Perouse, Malabar and Talisman Sabre. Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world’s largest international maritime exercise, concluded its 2022 session in early August and included naval forces from 26 nations.
The exercises have a similar goal: improve familiarity, trust and cooperation so military forces from different nations can perform together seamlessly.
Garuda Shield followed Garuda Canti Dharma 2022 in July at the Indonesian Peacekeeping Training Center in Sentul, south of Jakarta. The two-week, multinational peacekeeping field-training exercise involved about 420 Indonesian and 70 U.S. military personnel, along with about 350 peacekeepers and trainers representing 22 nations.
IMAGE CREDIT: CAPT. KYLE ABRAHAM/U.S. ARMY