Indonesia Invites Thailand to Join 2023 Super Garuda Shield Exercise

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Indonesian Military (TNI) chief General Andika Perkasa has invited the Thai military to participate in the 2023 Super Garuda Shield exercise.

"It is very good for TNI soldiers to take part in many multinational exercises," Andika said on Sunday, Oct. 16.

The invitation was conveyed by the Military chief when he received a visit from Thai Group Defense Attaché Captain Chayot Sawansan.

He said the meeting with the Thai Defense Attaché was part of strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and Thailand.

Strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, he said, included discussing tourism, culture, development, and innovation.

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In the meeting, they also discussed several issues related to military exercises, including ones that Thailand organized.

Some TNI soldiers participated in some exercises that Thailand held, he mentioned. Andika expected that the participating personnel could learn from each other and expand friendships.

"I want Thailand to actually take part in our combined multinational exercises in Indonesia," the TNI chief added.

Meanwhile, Captain Sawansan said Thai military strength keeps making improvements and advancement.

"We have a combat exercise involving 15 countries," Sawansan said.

The 2022 Super Garuda Shield exercise gathered military personnel from, among others, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Canada, France, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the United Kingdom.

Initially, the joint exercise, known as Garuda Shield, was attended by the US and the Indonesian armies. The annual joint exercise started in 2007.

Super Garuda Shield 2022, from August 1 to 14, was a joint exercise between the TNI and the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) to strengthen interoperability, capability, mutual trust, and cooperation.

The joint military exercise was also aimed to create communication between the participating countries.

This year's Garuda Shield joint exercise was held in three locations, the Combat Training Center in Baturaja, Palembang; Marine Combat Training Center in Dabo Singkep, Riau Islands; and the Combat Training Center in Amborawang, East Kalimantan.

Source: State News Antara