Indonesia Leads Super Garuda Shield 2025 Multinational Drills

KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia’s role as a key driver of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific was highlighted as the multinational joint exercise Super Garuda Shield 2025 officially returns, bringing together 13 participating countries and observers from 11 additional nations, in one of the region’s largest combined military drills.

United States Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to Indonesia, Peter Haymond, said that this year’s Super Garuda Shield (SGS) joint exercise underscores Indonesia’s role as a leading force for peace in the Indo-Pacific region.

“This joint exercise is a testament to Indonesia’s leadership and its commitment to regional peace and stability,” said Haymond during a reception hosted by Japan Self-Defense Forces aboard JS Osumi docked at Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta, on Sunday, August 24, 2025, as quoted by antaranews.com.

Super Garuda Shield, set to take place from August 25 to September 3, 2025, will involve military forces from 13 countries, including Indonesia, the United States, Australia, Japan, the UK, with observers from 11 additional nations. Approximately 6,000 personnel will participate in this year’s exercise.

The drills span multiple strategic locations, Baturaja in South Sumatra and Dabo Singkep in the Riau Islands, featuring complex scenarios such as fire exercises and airborne maneuvers. With 22 observers from 11 additional countries, SGS 2025 reflects growing regional interest in interoperability and collective readiness.

Beyond tactical coordination, SGS 2025 is a platform for building trust, enhancing crisis response capabilities, and fostering shared values among like-minded nations. The exercise exemplifies Indonesia’s commitment to a free, open, and peaceful Indo-Pacific, and its role as a convener of regional stability.

Haymond described SGS 2025 as a concrete example of Indonesia’s proactive role in bringing like-minded countries together in pursuit of shared goals for peace and cooperation.

He noted that the exercise reflects not only Indonesia’s leadership but also the collective commitment of participating nations to military modernization and enhanced interoperability.

“Each year, Super Garuda Shield becomes more complex, more capable, and more representative of the shared commitment among regional partners,” he added.

The U.S. diplomat emphasized the importance of building mutual trust among nations through such joint training, particularly in preparing for future crises.

“When a crisis occurs, we already know who we can rely on and how to work together effectively to protect our people and territories,” he continued.

He also expressed hope that participating military personnel will use the exercise as an opportunity to learn from one another’s strategies in addressing shared security challenges. ***