TNI To Hold Joint Exercises With The US Armed Forces

The Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces, General TNI Andika Perkasa (right), shakes hands with the Commander of the Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral John C Aquilino (left), in Jakarta, Monday (21/3/2021). Aqulino (ANTARA/Ade P Marboen)

JAKARTA - After years of working together on various aspects and dimensions, the TNI has expressed the discourse of holding an integrated or joint tridimensional exercise with the United States Armed Forces.

This was said by the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General TNI Andika Perkasa on the sidelines of the visit of the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral John C Aquilino, in Jakarta, Monday. the most extensive defense command in the world, covering 14 time zones, 36 countries and more than 50 percent of the world's population.

The two four-star high-ranking officers witnessed firsthand a workshop between the two militaries that discussed various things about joint operations, as a result of their conversations and discussions so far.

General Andi stated that he often communicates remotely with Aquilino, and one of their main topics of discussion is improving relations between the two militaries and the quality of cooperation that has been carried out so far.

"We plan to make one exercise, which does not eliminate exercises at the dimension level, but turns them into a more integrated exercise so that we can feel the nuances of the combination more. Starting from planning to implementation, in a tridimensional manner," Andika said as quoted by Antara, Monday. , March 21. This is the largest and most massive joint exercise between the Indonesian Army and the United States Army that has ever been held, on three separate island mandalas at the same time, at the regimental level. Indonesia and maintain the territorial integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. "One of the tasks of the TNI is to triangulate the territorial integrity of Indonesia so that anything will be done, including in addition to using its own strength - if the objectives are the same - from friendly countries who also want to maintain the territorial integrity of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia. That's what we hope for," he said.

General Andika Perkasa relates the geographical situation of Indonesia which is very dominated by water.

"That's why it's the duty of the TNI and we have limitations in this regard, because our territorial waters are almost five times the land area, and the capabilities and the number of weapons systems we have are definitely beyond our capabilities. We do have the same interests, in this regard. Previously, maintaining the territorial integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, so that if there are friendly countries that we have worked with so far in order to maintain the territorial integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, it is a very extraordinary assistance," he said.

So far, Indonesia has a framework for joint training cooperation with the United States, including Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) between the Indonesian Navy and the United States Navy, Garuda Shield (TNI AD and US Army), and Bomber Exercise (TNI AU and US Navy). United States Air Force), and many others. This is supported by the exchange of personnel education, and others. On the other hand, many TNI weapon systems also originate from the United States or contain components and sub-components or systems originating from that country.

"It's very important for me to be here, I appreciate his vision and leadership and today we are together talking about how this relationship can be better, at the joint force stage and higher as a combine force. Training together at a higher and more complex level to answer the common security needs in the region so that it can provide freedom of navigation for all nations in the Indo-Pacific in a state of peace and for the sake of mutual prosperity for both countries," said Aquilino.

"We have been collaborating together for a long time in the Indo-Pacific and we will do that continuously and increasing. What we are also doing is that the exercises that we are doing together to ensure that the goals of the two countries in this exercise are achieved and ensure that both countries capable of operating together in the international arena," he continued.

Regarding security and peace in the region, he stated, "It is very important to understand the prosperity that has occurred in this region during these 80 years thanks to free and direct access to other parts of the world in accordance with international rules.

"We support the continued application of international rules for several reasons, ranging from for the sake of security, stability and peace in the region, and then for the prosperity of all nations in the region," he continued.

In the waters of the South China Sea and its surroundings, the United States together with Britain and Australia formed an AUKUS defense and security alliance on September 15, 2021. One of the main points initiated in the alliance was to ensure Australia had a strategic arsenal in the form of submarines with nuclear power, cooperation in the areas of cyber capability enhancement, artificial intelligence, and quantum technology, and other underwater capabilities.

"AUKUS is an agreement between the three countries to jointly improve their capabilities in all areas, whether it is under the sea, above the sea, in the air, in space, and cyber to ward off conflict and maintain peace and stability in the region. After this I'm going to Australia to have a dialogue with our partners there to improve our capabilities in terms of interoperability," he said.