Super Garuda Shield: Global Forces Unite Amid South China Sea Tensions

Global Forces Engage in Super Garuda Shield Drills

Thousands of military personnel from Indonesia, United States, and eight other countries have commenced two weeks of joint exercises aimed at enhancing regional security in the Asia-Pacific. The drills, known as Super Garuda Shield, began on Monday in Sidoarjo, East Java, with Indonesia contributing over 4,400 troops.

 

Scope and Objectives of the Exercises

The annual Super Garuda Shield exercises, first held in 2007, are designed to bolster joint and multinational military capabilities. Major General Joseph Harris of the Hawaii Air National Guard highlighted the event as a premier opportunity for collective training, including academic exchanges, professional development, command-and-control exercises, and live-fire drills.

Training activities will cover a range of operations, such as staff and cyber exercises, airborne maneuvers, joint strikes, amphibious operations, and simulated land battles. The program aims to demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a safe and secure Indo-Pacific region.

 

International Participation

In addition to Indonesia and the US, participating nations include Australia, Japan, UK, Singapore, South Korea, Canada, New Zealand, and France. Observer nations, including Brazil, Germany, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, the Netherlands, Timor Leste, and Papua New Guinea, will also be present.

 

The exercises, running until September 6 across multiple locations, come amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, where competing claims over disputed islands and waterways have heightened regional instability.