Joint military exercises between the US and Indonesian forces have begun in Indonesia.
This year, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces will also participate for the first time, making it the largest exercise ever, and it seems that the aim is to strengthen multilateral security relations with China in mind, which is advancing its maritime expansion.
This exercise is held every year by the US and Indonesian forces, and the opening ceremony was held on the 3rd at the Indonesian Army base in southern Sumatra.
This year, in addition to the Navy and Air Force participating, the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force and the Australian Army will participate for the first time, making it the largest exercise ever with a total of 14 countries and a total of about 5,000 people participating.
After the opening ceremony, the Ground Self-Defense Force's "1st Airborne Brigade" conducted a joint parachute drill with Indonesia and the United States.
Indonesia has set up an exclusive economic zone off the coast of its own territory, the Natuna Islands, in the southern waters of the South China Sea, and is in conflict with China, which claims rights and interests in most of the South China Sea. It appears to be aimed at strengthening multilateral security ties.
Chief of Staff Tsuki Ushijima of the Ground Command Headquarters said, "This is a highly valuable exercise in terms of the strategy of a free and open Indo-Pacific. I would like to participate in it again in the future."