President Prabowo Receives Italian Navy Delegation After Garibaldi Handover

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto was scheduled to receive representatives of the Italian Navy at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. The delegation previously escorted the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi to Indonesia.

The Italian Navy representatives arrived at the Presidential Palace complex at around 1:03 p.m. local time. State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said the meeting was related to the handover of the Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier to Indonesia.

"It is true that this afternoon the President is scheduled to receive representatives of the Italian Navy who escorted the Giuseppe Garibaldi yesterday, ahead of its entry into service as Indonesia's first aircraft carrier," Prasetyo said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.

Prasetyo said the vessel’s renaming had been carried out officially on Thursday morning. The former Italian Navy ship has now become part of the Indonesian Navy fleet.

He said the presence of the aircraft carrier is expected to strengthen the Indonesian Navy’s capabilities. “We ask for your prayers and support so that this strengthens our Navy and helps address the challenges we face,” Prasetyo said.

One of the vessel’s planned uses is to support efforts to combat forest and land fires (karhutla). The ship can function as a base for helicopters conducting water-bombing operations.

“One example is assisting efforts to extinguish forest and land fires. This aircraft carrier can serve as a base for our helicopters,” Prasetyo said.

The helicopters can then be deployed for aerial firefighting missions. Using the vessel as a mobile base is expected to improve the mobility of forest and land fire response operations.

Prasetyo also confirmed that the ship was officially renamed KRI Sriwijaya-100 on Thursday morning. The vessel arrived at Pier 107 of Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta on Sept. 18, 2026. (Diva Rifdah)