By Liu Lin
The largest-scale joint exercise between the US and Indonesia, the 2024 Super Garuda Shield exercise, kicked off on August 26 and will last till September 6 at several Indonesian military exercise ranges on Java and Sumatra.
Originally a bilateral army exercise between the two countries, the Super Garuda Shield exercise was expanded into a multi-service event in 2022 involving the participation of more partner states. The latest exercise, the third after the elevation, created a record high in the number of both participating countries and troops. Indonesia deployed about 4,400 troops and the US dispatched about 1,800 to the exercise, along with hundreds of military personnel from Australia, Canada, Singapore, the ROK, the UK, France, and New Zealand, and observers from 12 other countries.
The exercise subjects included airborne operations, joint strikes, and amphibious operations. It's worth noting that cyber subjects were conducted for the first time, highlighting how much importance the two countries attach to strengthening their cyber defense capabilities. Besides, the first-ever participation of countries such as the ROK, Canada and France reflects America's attempt to further reinforce the Indo-Pacific network of allies and partners.
The growing scale of the exercise – from bilateral to multilateral, from the army to multiple services – mirrors the geostrategic reality in the Indo-Pacific region and the considerations of the participants.
First of all, joint military exercises, including the Super Garuda Shield, are important measures for the US to advance its so-called "Indo-Pacific strategy" on the military level. In recent years, the US has been organizing or participating in a rising number of joint exercises in the Indo-Pacific, with typical exercises like the Balikatan and the Super Garuda Shield assuming ever larger scale with more combat-oriented subjects.
While the US claimed the exercises are aimed to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific, they are actually to improve Washington's military deployments and war-readiness in the region and enhance the equipment interoperability with its allies. In particular, the US has brought its key allies, including the ROK, Japan, Australia and the UK, into several bilateral exercises, with a clear view to reinforcing their joint operation capability.
Second, the continuous expansion of the Super Garuda Shield exercise indicates the ever-closer military bond between the US and Indonesia. The US sees Indonesia as a key partner in its implementation of the Indo-Pacific strategy and seeks to intensify the bilateral military and defense cooperation because of Indonesia's important strategic location on the maritime transport route. Expanding their joint exercise is just one way of promoting their military cooperation in recent years.
Last August, Indonesia signed separate agreements with Boeing and Lockheed Martin to buy 24 F-15EX fighters and 24 Black Hawk helicopters. In last October, Washington and Jakarta had their first "2+2" diplomatic and defense dialogue, at which they agreed to intensify defense cooperation in such areas as maritime security, military medicine, peacekeeping, and military education.
Through closer military cooperation, Indonesia hopes to leverage America's strengths to modernize its own military and enhance its presence on hotspot regional issues.
Third, under America's instigation and support, its allies such as Japan and Australia have also intensified their defense ties with Indonesia. Not long ago, Indonesian and Australian defense ministers visited each other and signed a defense cooperation agreement aimed to facilitate the mutual visit of their militaries to each other's bases, carry out joint exercises, and strengthen educational and training exchanges. Indonesia and Japan have also formed the "2+2" dialogue mechanism. Considering all these, Japan and Australia's participation in the Super Garuda Shield exercise would come as no surprise.
America's rallying of allies for joint exercises in the Indo-Pacific has injected uncertainties into the region as some of their exercises are clearly targeted. In addition to stepping up military deterrence, the US also dreams of conducting joint interference with its allies in case a crisis or conflict breaks out in the region.
Analysts say Indonesia has traditionally upheld an independent diplomatic policy without the intention of picking sides between the major countries. Therefore, while strengthening military cooperation with the US and its allies, Jakarta has tried to downplay the strategic influence of the exercise by, for instance, incorporating many civil subjects. In the foreseeable future, it will continue to strike a balance between the major countries in order to protect its own strategic interests.
(The author is from the Institute of International Strategies, National Academy of Governance)
