12 countries will join Indonesia, US annual joint military “Super Garuda Shield” exercise on Sumatra

Over 4,000 troops from dozen countries will join in an every year joint military exercise between Indonesia and the United States one month from now in the midst of simmering tensions in the South China Sea, as per Indonesian officials.

The “Super Garuda Shield” exercise will be hung on the really Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan from Aug. 1 to 14, including such countries as Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Britain. Ground drills and beach-landing practices are being scheduled.

Indonesia will dispatch 2,000 soldiers, and the United States over 1,100 personnel to the activity that traces all the way back to 2009, Gen. Andika Perkasa, commander of the Indonesian military, told reporters Sunday.

Past activities just elaborate army soldiers. This year, notwithstanding, Indonesia and the United States chose to include all branches, including their air forces, the navies, and exceptional forces.

“It’s to improve our capabilities in dealing with challenges, including the security ones, natural disasters, and humanitarian missions,” Andika said in his joint press conference with the visiting chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley.

Milley said the current year’s edition will be “a very, very important and significant exercise, the largest one that we’ve run to date.”

China claims a large part of the South China Sea and has militarized outposts in areas of the sea that are likewise challenged by adjoining countries, like the Philippines and Vietnam.

Indonesia respects the southern finish of the South China Sea as its territorial waters. China has over and again advised Indonesia to quit drilling for oil and natural gas there.