Super Garuda Shield 2025

 What Happened?

• Indonesia & U.S. launched annual joint military drills in Jakarta (Aug 25 – Sept 4, 2025).

• Exercise has been held every year since 2009, expanded since 2022.

 Participants

• Main hosts: Indonesia + United States.

• Other active participants (12 nations): Australia, Japan, Singapore, UK, France, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Brazil, South Korea.

• Observers: Countries including India, Papua New Guinea and East Timor also sent observers for the exercise.

• Troops involved: ~6,500.

 Purpose

• Strengthening regional security ties in an unstable global landscape.

• Building interoperability among forces.

• Sending a message of deterrence against aggression (esp. in the Indo-Pacific).

Context & Geopolitical Background

1. China’s Role

• Jakarta concerned about Chinese encroachment in its Exclusive Economic Zone (South China Sea).

• However, Indonesia balances relations → positive economic ties with Beijing continue.

• China accuses the U.S. of trying to form an “Asian NATO.”

2. U.S. Strategy

• Expanding military alliances in Indo-Pacific to reassure allies.

• Warns countries against relying on China economically while seeking U.S. military support (Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Singapore speech).

3. Indonesia’s Dual-Track Diplomacy

• Defence diversification, not alignment:

  • Expands exercises with the U.S. & Western allies.

  • Purchases U.S. & French arms.

  • Keeps disputes with China mostly behind closed doors due to heavy Chinese trade & investment.

 Analysts say this non-alignment strategy may actually be Indonesia’s strength in a tense region.

 Why This Matters

• For the region: Reinforces the U.S.-led security network in Asia amid South China Sea tensions.

• For Indonesia:

  • Boosts military capability without openly siding against China.

  • Maintains flexibility in foreign policy.

• For China: Another signal of growing pushback against its regional assertiveness.