KRI Diponegoro Joint Exercise Of NATO Warships In The Mediterranean

Indonesian Navy soldiers who comedy KRI Diponegoro-365 trained with Italian Navy warship ITS Carlo Bergamini F-590 in the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon, Monday (11/3/2024). BETWEEN/HO-The Indonesian Navy Information Service.

JAKARTA - KRI Diponegoro-365, which is currently serving with UN peacekeepers in Lebanon (MTF 448 UNIFIL) in joint exercises with several warships from the armed forces of the state members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Indonesian Navy Information Service, reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, March 13, said the exercise took place earlier this week (11/3) with Italian warship ITS Carlo Bergamini F-590 in the Maritime Task Force 448 UNIFIL operating area in the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon.

The Commander of KRI Diponegoro-365 as well as the Commander of the Task Force (Dansatgas) MTF TNI Garuda XXVIII/O UNIFIL Marine Lt. Col. (P) Wiratyo Haprabu, as quoted from the same written broadcast, explained that the exercise was an initiative and request from ITS Bergamini.

He assessed that the invitation to joint exercise was a form of the closer relationship between the Indonesian Navy and Regia Marina (The Italian Navy). Not only that, Wiratyo also believes that the Italian Navy sees the ability and track record of professional Indonesian Navy soldiers.

Several series of exercises carried out by Indonesian Navy soldiers and Italian Navy soldiers include operations to land and fly helicopters on ships, maneuver training, formation training, and training for delivery of information between ships.

"This exercise is carried out to improve bilateral relations between the navy and the two countries as well as equalize perceptions in the procedures and training of special soldiers who are currently serving in the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon," said an official statement from the Indonesian Navy Information Service.

The Commander of the 1st Division of the Italian Navy, First Admiral (RDML) Stefano Frumento, who led the exercise, praised the abilities shown by KRI Diponegoro-365 crew members both through radio communications and through an official letter submitted to the KRI Commander Diponegoro.

KRI Diponegoro, who is a member of the TNI MTF Task Force Garuda XXVIII/O UNIFIL contingent, has served with UN peacekeepers in Lebanon since early 2024. The Indonesian Navy warship sailed from Jakarta to Lebanon since the end of 2023 replacing KRI Frans Kaisiepo-368, who previously served in Lebanon with the TNI MTF Task Force for the Garuda XXVIII-N UNIFIL contingent.

The Garuda Maritime Task Force Task Force is one of the tasks in the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, which consists entirely of Indonesian Navy soldiers.

The MTF Task Force in Lebanon is tasked with maintaining peace along the Lebanese and Israeli borders along with other task forces, including the TNI Mechanized Battalion Task Force (INDOBATT), the TNI Headquarters/Force Headquarters Supporter Task Force (FHQSU), the Indo Force Protection Company (FPC) Task Force, the Civil-Military Coordination Task Force / Civilian Military Coordination (CIMIC) TNI, the Military Community Outreach Unit (MCOU) Task Force, and the Level 2 Hospital Task Force.

Most TNI soldiers who are members of UNIFIL operate on land, while the MTF Task Force carries out its duties at sea.

Several tasks carried out by soldiers from the UNIFIL MTF Task Force, including patrolling the waters, along the border, preventing the illegal entry of weapons, and holding training for Lebanese Navy soldiers.