Super Garuda Shield Exercise

From August 24 to September 4, the United States and Indonesia conducted the annual Super Garuda Shield Exercise, the largest iteration to date. More than 6,500 military personnel from 12 nations participated, with Cambodia, India, and Papua New Guinea observing. The exercise is designed to enhance interoperability, strengthen combat readiness, and demonstrate collective resolve among regional partners. This year’s expanded scale underscores the Indo-Pacific’s growing interest in closer cooperation with the United States and highlights the strength of U.S.-Indonesia defense ties. Indonesian officials emphasized Super Garuda Shield’s role as a proving ground for the country’s defense modernization, while regional participants benefited from training alongside U.S. forces and gaining familiarity with American equipment to support their own military development.