On Monday, August 25, 2025, the Indonesian National Armed Forces and the United States kicked off their annual Super Garuda Shield joint military exercises, drawing together soldiers from a dozen allied nations across the Indo-Pacific. This year’s event, which runs for 11 days and concludes on September 4 with a live-fire drill, marks not only a show of military might but also a striking testament to evolving alliances and tensions in the region.
The exercises, held in both Jakarta and on Sumatra island, have grown in scale and significance since their inception in 2009. According to the Associated Press, the list of participating nations has expanded since 2022, now including Australia, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Brazil, and South Korea. In total, 6,500 troops are taking part this year, a clear signal of deepening cooperation among these countries.
At the opening ceremony, General Tandyo Budi Revita, Deputy Commander of the Indonesian military, set the tone for the drills. “It serves as a joint exercise where we stand together to respond every challenge quickly and precisely,” he remarked, standing alongside Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The message was unmistakable: unity and preparedness are paramount in a region where the geopolitical landscape is anything but stable.
Paparo echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the broader meaning behind the expanded exercises. “It represents deterring anyone that would hope to change the facts on the ground using violence with the collective determination of all participants to uphold the principles of sovereignty,” he said, as reported by the Associated Press. For the U.S., the symbolism of this growing coalition is as important as the military maneuvers themselves, reinforcing a commitment to partnership and mutual respect among nations.
The backdrop to these drills is a region increasingly defined by great power rivalry and rising tensions, particularly in the South China Sea. Indonesia has repeatedly expressed concern over what it perceives as Chinese encroachment on its exclusive economic zone. Yet, Jakarta has managed to maintain generally positive ties with Beijing, a balancing act that has not gone unnoticed by analysts and observers.
Several Asian countries sent observers to the exercises, reflecting widespread interest in the outcome and implications of such large-scale military collaboration. The presence of so many nations, both as participants and observers, underscores the growing sense of shared security concerns in the Indo-Pacific.
China, however, has not viewed the expanded drills with equanimity. According to reports from the Associated Press and other outlets, Chinese officials have accused the United States of attempting to build an “Asian NATO” aimed at containing China’s rising military and diplomatic influence. These accusations are not new, but the scale and scope of Super Garuda Shield have clearly touched a nerve in Beijing.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking recently in Singapore, acknowledged the delicate balancing act many countries face. He cautioned that seeking U.S. military support while continuing to rely on Chinese economic investment carries risks. Hegseth described Washington’s ongoing efforts to strengthen an “arc of military alliances” in the Indo-Pacific, aimed at reassuring allies who are increasingly alarmed by Beijing’s assertive actions—particularly in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
Despite the increased presence of Chinese coast guard vessels and fishing boats in the region, Indonesia has so far sought to avoid direct confrontation. Instead, Jakarta has continued to pursue economic initiatives with China, reflecting a pragmatic approach to its relationship with the regional giant. This dual-track diplomacy—engaging in robust defense cooperation with Western nations while maintaining strong economic ties with China—has become a hallmark of Indonesia’s foreign policy.
Analysts Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama, researchers at the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS), offered insight into Indonesia’s strategy. “This dual-track diplomacy might seem inconsistent. But for Jakarta, it is strategic. Indonesia is embracing defense diversification, not alignment,” Rakhmat told the Associated Press. He noted that Indonesia’s continued commitment to Super Garuda Shield, alongside its ongoing purchases of U.S. and French arms and efforts to develop interoperability with Western militaries, exemplifies this approach.
“In a region defined by rising tensions and great power rivalry, Indonesia’s refusal to choose sides, at least in defense, might be its strongest asset,” Rakhmat added. This sentiment is echoed by many regional experts, who see Indonesia’s stance as both pragmatic and protective of its national interests. By not aligning too closely with any single power, Indonesia retains flexibility and leverage in its foreign relations.
The exercises themselves are not just about military readiness. As General Revita emphasized, they are designed to foster rapid and precise joint responses to a range of challenges. The drills include complex combat scenarios, logistical operations, and live-fire exercises, all intended to enhance interoperability among the diverse forces present. For many participants, the opportunity to train alongside counterparts from other nations is invaluable, building trust and understanding that could prove crucial in a crisis.
For Indonesia, the stakes are particularly high. The country sits at a strategic crossroads in the Indo-Pacific, with vast maritime territories and significant economic interests at play. Its ability to navigate the competing pressures from China and the United States will likely shape regional dynamics for years to come.
Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to press its allies to take what it sees as threats from China more seriously. The message from Washington is clear: collective security and respect for sovereignty are essential to maintaining stability in the region. The growing participation in Super Garuda Shield suggests that many countries share this view, at least when it comes to military cooperation.
Yet, as the drills unfold and the political rhetoric swirls, the underlying reality remains complex. Indonesia’s dual-track diplomacy, balancing defense partnerships with economic pragmatism, reflects the nuanced calculations facing many nations in the Indo-Pacific. For now, the annual Super Garuda Shield exercises stand as a vivid illustration of both the possibilities and the perils of this new era of great power competition.
As 6,500 troops from across the globe train together under the Jakarta sun and on the fields of Sumatra, the world is watching closely. What happens here may not decide the future of the region, but it will certainly help shape the conversations—and the calculations—of those who will.