Indonesia, US Indo-Pacific Command Hold Joint Military Exercise
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10 September 2022 00:03 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) are set to hold a joint military exercise from September 9 to September 16, 2022, to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.
"This exercise gives an important meaning for us, especially on how it realizes the aim to maintain the strategic and comprehensive partnership," said TNI Commander Operation Assistant (apsos) Agus Suhardi during the opening of the event in Jakarta on Friday, September 9, 2022.
The joint training, which will be held for the tenth time, will be participated by 110 Indonesian military personnel and from USINDOPACOM.
According to Adjutant General Hawaii National Guard Kenneth Shiro Hara, representative of the United States military in this exercise, the main framework for the training will be focused on crisis mitigation. Not much has changed in terms of the training's goal despite the presence of geopolitical tensions.
Beni Sukadis, a military observer from Marapi Consulting explained that there is nothing to worry about in the implementation of this bilateral joint exercise. On the other hand, he believes that Gema Bhakti will further enhance cooperation and communication between the two countries in disaster management, especially for strategic, operational, and tactical aspects.
"If there are indications about the South China Sea, I think they are less relevant. We need to know that whatever we do in the context of bilateral and multilateral cooperation is always based on our own national interests," said Beni to Tempo on Friday, September 9.
Previously, the TNI and USINDOPACOM were also involved in the 2022 Super Garuda Shield joint exercise. There were 13 countries participating in this military exercise, including the United States, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, India, Timor Leste, Canada, France, and English. China had expressed its displeasure with this joint exercise.
DANIEL AHMAD
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