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Indonesia, US begin Gema Bhakti military exercise
Indonesian and US forces have commenced the seven-day annual Gema Bhakti joint exercise to enhance operational capabilities and crisis management capacity.
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he Indonesian Military (TNI) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) assembled on Friday to kick-start the 10th Gema Bhakti, a seven-day joint training exercise focusing on crisis management and Military Operations for War (OMP).
Some 110 combined personnel from the US armed forces and the TNI took part in the annual exercise, which also aimed to strengthen their operational capabilities and capacity to coordinate with civilian and humanitarian agencies in the event of a crisis.
Maj. Gen. Agus Suhardi, operations assistant to TNI commander, said in his speech during the opening ceremony that the joint exercise was a good opportunity for the two countries’ ties, adding that the two militaries had invaluable knowledge to share.
“I believe that with the arranged scenarios, every participant can become creative in [approaching] the OMP from the perspective of both countries,” said Agus.
At a press briefing on [Friday], Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, the adjutant general for the state of Hawaii, drew parallels between the Gema Bhakti and the Super Garuda Shield.
“Similar to the Garuda Shield, Gema Bhakti has evolved from a small, less complex exercise to a much more challenging and robust joint exercise that enhances the TNI and the US’ interoperability and multinational capability,” Hara said.
This year’s Garuda Shield kicked off in early August with initial concerns about China’s reaction, as Beijing had sent a strongly worded letter to Jakarta warning against holding the much larger annual exercise, which usually involves the militaries of several other countries.
Hara elaborated that despite the precariousness of world politics and security challenges today, the Gema Bhakti remained faithful to its usual agenda and was largely unaffected.
“It is more dangerous now, but the training is unchanged,” he told journalists.
Defense expert Beni Sukadis concurred, telling The Jakarta Post on Friday that the Gema Bhakti was unlikely to raise tensions in the Indo-Pacific, which had become caught up in the US-China rivalry in recent years.
“There are no concerns about the possibility of the exercise stirring up problems in [the region]. Indonesia’s [stance] in any cooperation is to prioritize its own national interests before anything else,” Beni said.
“This exercise can increase the capacity of Indonesia’s civilian officials and military personnel during times of crisis. Joint exercises like this should be carried out regularly,” he added.
Last month, US State Department announced a new US$1.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, vowing to keep boosting the island's defenses amid increased tensions with Beijing.
The weapons deal comes a month after US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-governing democratic entity. Beijing responded to the visit with a show of force by holding military drills in the Taiwan Strait, which was largely viewed as a trial run for a future invasion.
The Taiwan arms package was the largest approved under the administration of President Joe Biden, reported AFP, and came the day after Taiwanese forces shot down an unidentified commercial drone amid a sudden spate of mysterious incursions.
The deal includes $665 million for maintaining and upgrading a Raytheon early warning radar system installed in 2013 and $85.6 million for procuring more than 100 Sidewinder missiles, according to AFP.
Taiwan also plans to spend around $355 million to buy 60 Harpoon Block II missiles for tracking and sinking Chinese vessels in the event of a naval attack.
