Indonesia, together with the United States and six other nations, is conducting the Super Garuda Shield 2023 military exercise. The operation runs through September 13, with activities scheduled across multiple training sites in Indonesia. Participating allies include the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and France, while several other countries such as Brunei, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, and East Timor will participate in observer roles. The arrangement and details have been covered by regional news services and official government statements over the period leading up to the event.
Insights from the United States Pacific Army Commander, Charles Flynn, indicate that the foundations laid by last year’s Garuda Shield informed this year’s planning and execution. This perspective was shared through official channels and reaffirmed in media reports, underscoring a continuity of bilateral and multi-national collaboration that has shaped the exercise’s evolution in recent years.
The United States Embassy in Indonesia stated that around 2,100 American soldiers and approximately 1,900 Indonesian service members from various branches will take part in the exercise. The program includes a range of activities designed to strengthen interoperability and professional development: expert academic exchanges, workshops for professional growth, command simulations, aerial operations, airfield takeover drills, and joint field training enhanced by live-fire exercises. These components are aimed at enhancing regional readiness and defense cooperation among the participating nations.
Garuda Shield has been an annual event since 2009, traditionally conducted in a bilateral format between the United States and Indonesia. In 2022, the exercise expanded to an international format for the first time, signaling a broader commitment to regional security cooperation and plural engagement with partner nations. The ongoing evolution of the exercise reflects a shared interest in improving interoperability, logistics, and strategic coordination across diverse military forces operating in the Indo-Pacific region.
Historically, Garuda Shield has served as a practical platform for building trust and mutual understanding among participating militaries, allowing them to practice combined operations, culminating in coordinated responses to a variety of scenarios. This year’s iteration continues that trajectory, emphasizing collaborative planning, the exchange of best practices, and the refinement of tactics in environments that increasingly demand joint action and rapid decision-making under pressure.
The exercise also includes extensive coordination on command and control processes, simulated and live training elements, and opportunities for professional development that contribute to the higher objectives of regional stability and secure maritime and airspace governance. Observers will gain exposure to the evolving standards and methodologies used by the participating forces, contributing to a broader, shared understanding of modern defense operations and allied security commitments in the region.