Indonesia hosts annual US-led combat drills with Indo-Pacific allies

Indonesia and the United States began annual joint military exercises on Monday together with forces from a dozen other countries, as the U.S. pushes its allies to take threats from China more seriously. Hosted by the Indonesian National Armed Forces, this year’s Super Garuda Shield focused on strengthening regional ties in an increasingly unstable global landscape, said Gen. Tandyo Budi Revita, the military's Deputy Commander. The exercise has been held annually in Jakarta by U.S. and Indonesian soldiers since 2009. Jakarta has expressed concern about what it sees as Chinese encroachment on its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, while maintaining generally positive ties with Beijing. The exercises will end on Sept. 4 with a combined live-fire drill.