US Alliance Holds Military Drills, Indonesia Urges Regional Stability

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has emphasized the importance of maintaining regional stability and security amid the dynamics of military cooperation involving the United States, the Philippines, and Japan in the ASEAN region. Spokesperson for Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vahd Nabyl Achmad Mulachela, stated during a press briefing in Jakarta on Thursday (April 30, 2026) that every country has the right to establish cooperation with others in accordance with its national interests.

“Every country has cooperation with other nations to develop in line with its national needs,” Nabyl said.

However, he noted that Indonesia adheres to the principles outlined in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), adopted in 2019. These principles include inclusivity, openness, and respect for ASEAN centrality in addressing regional issues.

“What we will always prioritize are the principles of inclusivity, openness, and ASEAN centrality to ensure stability, security, and prosperity in the region,” he said.

The United States and the Philippines conducted large-scale military exercises with a Japanese contingent on Monday (April 20, 2026) local time. The drills are part of the annual Balikatan exercise and mark the first time Japanese forces have participated.

The exercises were held amid rising global tensions, including ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as well as evolving security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. In response, China issued strong objections, particularly as several exercise locations are situated in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

According to an AFP report on Monday, April 20, 2026, the drills include live-fire exercises in northern Philippines facing the Taiwan Strait, as well as operations in offshore areas of the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing forces have frequently been involved in confrontations. Citing the official website of the U.S. Department of War, more than 17,000 personnel from the Philippines, the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and New Zealand are participating in the exercises to strengthen interoperability amid the increasingly complex Indo-Pacific landscape.