In a historic move, Indonesia and Russia kicked off their first joint naval training exercises on Monday in the Java Sea.
Pledged to Deepen Ties
This is signaling Indonesia’s ongoing commitment to an independent foreign policy that emphasizes cooperation with a diverse range of nations, according to Hotnews.
The drills come shortly after Indonesia’s newly inaugurated President Prabowo Subianto pledged to deepen defense ties with Russia, aiming to expand partnerships across the globe.
The exercises, scheduled from November 4 to 8 near Surabaya, east of Jakarta, involve four Russian warships that arrived in Indonesia on Sunday.
Spokesperson I Made Wira Hady Arsanta Wardhana of the Indonesian navy stated that the exercises represent an “international partnership update” between the two navies, though specific details about the operations have not been disclosed.
First Large-Scale Naval Exercises
A representative of the Russian delegation indicated that the exercises will focus on knowledge sharing between the two forces.
Although Russia’s embassy in Jakarta did not immediately comment, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov noted last month that these are the "first large-scale naval exercises" conducted between the two nations.
Analysts see the joint exercise as an indicator of Indonesia’s broadened approach to foreign relations under Prabowo’s administration.
"This suggests Indonesia’s willingness to engage with all global players," said Yohanes Sulaiman, a professor of international relations, adding that the maneuvers reflect Indonesia’s policy of non-alignment while raising questions about Prabowo’s broader foreign policy strategy.
The move follows Prabowo’s visit to Moscow in July, during which he described Russia as Indonesia’s "great friend."
This relationship adds another layer to Indonesia’s multi-faceted approach to defense cooperation. Since 2006, Indonesia has also co-hosted annual “Super Garuda Shield” military exercises with the United States, which in 2024 involved over 4,500 participants over two weeks.
