Spanish
Around 6,000 soldiers from 13 countries, including the United States and Japan, are participating since this Monday in the joint military exercises Super Garuda Shield, the largest organized by Indonesia.
Combat scenarios and live-fire exercises, along with aerial maneuvers, will be part of these exercises that began today and will take place in several areas of the Indonesian archipelago until September 3rd.
"In Baturaja (in the south of Sumatra island), shooting exercises and demonstrations of skill with ground and airborne troops will be held," said General Kristomei Sianturi, director of Communication of the Indonesian Army, reported the public agency Antara.
The practices will also be set in the Riau Islands, located in the South China Sea, an area whose sovereignty is disputed by China and several Southeast Asian countries.
In this edition, personnel from 13 countries are participating, which also includes Australia and the United Kingdom, while there will be observers from another 11 nations.
On Sunday, the Japanese warship JS Osumi, participating in this year's exercises, arrived at a port in Jakarta following a military cooperation agreement between the Indonesian and Japanese armies sealed last April.
"This joint exercise is a testament to Indonesia's leadership and its commitment to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region," said the Chargé d'Affaires of the US embassy in Indonesia, Peter Haymond, at a reception for the Japanese ship, Antara reports.
Indonesia, which also maintains strong military relations with China and Russia, has become a key partner for the United States in the Indo-Pacific, where Washington and Beijing are vying for influence in the region.
