Indonesia-US Starts the Largest-Ever Super Garuda Shield Military Exercise

Jakarta: The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the United States Armed Forces, in collaboration with 11 other troop-contributing nations, officially launched the 2025 Super Garuda Shield exercise today with an opening ceremony at the Naval Staff and Command College (Seskoal) in Jakarta. The joint exercise will take place across Jakarta, Baturaja in South Sumatra, and Dabo Singkep in Lampung from August 25 to September 4, 2025.

This year, Super Garuda Shield brings together more than 6,000 troops from Indonesia, the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Germany, and France. 

Super Garuda Shield is a large-scale, multinational joint military exercise designed to enhance interoperability, build mutual trust, and strengthen collective readiness among the participating armed forces of partner nations. Originally established in 2006 as a bilateral information and training exchange between the United States and Indonesia under the name Garuda Shield, the exercise expanded in 2022 to include additional partner nations, reflecting the growing importance of defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. 

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Samuel J. Paparo said, “Super Garuda Shield has grown into one of the region’s premier exercises... whether its airborne operations, littoral and jungle operations, maritime maneuver, or staff planning, this exercise builds interoperability and resilience. It ensures that, as a team of nations, we can meet regional challenges and keep the Indo-Pacific free and open.” 

“The Super Garuda Shield Joint Exercise 2025 is not merely a military drill,” said the Deputy Commander of Indonesian Armed Force (TNI) General Tandyo Budi Revita in his opening remarks. “It is a platform of trust, a bridge of friendship, and a beacon of our shared commitment to safeguard peace and stability.” 

“Super Garuda Shield exemplifies the strength of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Indonesia and the unwavering commitment of all participating nations to strengthen regional security and stability,” said U.S. Charge d’Affaires Ambassador Peter Haymond. “Each year this exercise grows in importance and reflects our shared dedication to peace and security.” 

Super Garuda Shield increases readiness through realistic training in a variety of climates, terrains, and environments.  This training and interaction also provide leaders, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines with the cultural awareness and familiarization necessary to operate in overseas contingencies. 

Super Garuda Shield 2025 features maritime and field training events to include engineering construction activities, staff training exercises, airborne operations, jungle training, air assault operations, an amphibious exercise, a large field training exercise and combined arms live fire exercises, and a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) live fire exercise. These lines of effort will feature joint and multinational planning, operations, exchanges, and activities that increase the participating nations’ military capabilities to provide for combined defense of the Indonesia archipelago.

Also read:  U.S.-Indonesian Reviewed the Strength and Success of the Defense Relationship