Indonesia
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Northeast Asia
Allies and Partners expand complex air exercises across Indo-Pacific
FORUM Staff Advanced air training is enhancing interoperability and forging relationships among Allies and Partners across the Indo-Pacific. Cope North 2025 in Guam, the United States Pacific Air Forces’ (PACAF) largest multilateral exercise, included more than 2,300 personnel from Australia, Japan and the U.S. Upwards of 80 air assets participated, including fighter jets, command and control and transport aircraft, tankers…
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Partnerships
Expanded multinational space domain component key part of Cobra Gold 2025
Tech. Sgt. Emerson Nunez/U.S. Air Force Exercise Cobra Gold, long a cornerstone of Thailand-United States military engagement in the Indo-Pacific, expanded into the space domain in 2025 with a multinational initiative to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional partnerships. “The goal is to establish a joint, combined, multinational component command specifically for space,” said Maj. Garry Stratiev, space operations planner for…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Indonesia strengthens naval fleet with refurbishment, enhancement program
Gusty Da Costa In February 2025, the newly refurbished Indonesian Navy vessel KRI Bung Tomo departed Belawan Navy Base for the multilateral exercise Aman in the Arabian Sea. The 90-meter frigate is one of 41 vessels benefiting from Jakarta’s R41 program to extend the fleet’s service life and enhance its combat capabilities. A partnership of the Defense Ministry and Indonesian…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
China’s patrols, aggression fail to intimidate South China Sea claimant nations
FORUM Staff South China Sea nations have not succumbed to Beijing’s increasingly persistent efforts to undermine their lawful maritime territorial claims. Despite the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) threats and aggressive moves, fishing, security patrols and offshore exploration continued in 2024. That’s the conclusion of an analysis of Global Positioning System-based ship-tracking information that detects vessel movements globally. The Center for…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Royal Australian Navy deployment demonstrates nation’s commitment to regional security
FORUM Staff The Royal Australian Navy’s six-week engagement in Southeast Asia, including participation in a multilateral exercise, marks the nation’s first regional deployment of 2025. The guided-missile destroyer HMAS Hobart, with a crew of about 230 and an MH-60R Romeo Seahawk helicopter, departed its home port of Sydney in mid-January. Such deployments “demonstrate Australia’s ongoing commitment to supporting regional security…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Indonesia bolstering maritime defenses with long-endurance drones
Gusty Da Costa Indonesia’s planned acquisition of 12 ANKA drones is a significant step in modernizing its military capabilities, enhancing maritime security and supporting self-reliance in defense manufacturing, analysts say. The $300 million deal with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) includes six drones built in Turkey and six assembled locally by Indonesian aerospace firm PTDI. Delivery is expected by November 2025,…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Malaysia strengthens maritime security with advanced patrol aircraft, regional collaboration
Peter Parson Faced with evolving maritime security threats, Malaysia is strengthening its patrol capabilities, including with new aircraft and deeper ties with regional partners. As part of the upgrades, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is purchasing two ATR 72MPA patrol aircraft developed by Italy’s Leonardo Aerospace and converted three of its CN-235 cargo planes into advanced surveillance aircraft. The…
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Partnerships
France, Indonesia boost ties to promote stability in Indo-Pacific
The Associated Press The defense ministers of France and Indonesia have agreed to work more closely to maintain regional stability, officials said. Visiting French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin agreed in late January 2025 that their countries can collaborate through technology exchanges and other cooperation, Indonesian Defense Ministry spokesperson Brig. Gen. Frega Wenas said. The…
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Global Commons
Jakarta prioritizing domestic defense industry
Gusty Da Costa Amid growing regional tensions and evolving battlefield technology, Indonesia is seeking to further strengthen its domestic defense industry. While already boasting a successful record of domestic production for national defense needs as well as export, the industry is set to benefit from a growing defense budget, new strategic partnerships and technology agreements with other countries, as well…
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Partnerships
Multilateral La Perouse 25 exercise focuses on key maritime passages
FORUM Staff Protecting choke points that link the Indian Ocean to the Java Sea, South China Sea and Pacific Ocean was the mission of the La Perouse 25 exercise. Nine Indo-Pacific navies participated in the biennial exercise in January, the fifth and largest iteration. About one-third of the world’s commercial shipping traverses the Lombok, Malacca and Sunda straits, and the…
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