Indonesia-US-led Super Garuda Shield drills begin with 4,700 troops amid regional deterrence push

Indonesia, the US, and over a dozen allies launched annual joint military exercises on Monday, involving 4,700 soldiers, aimed at boosting defense capabilities and deterring aggression in the Asia-Pacific. The drills occur as Jakarta maintains a neutral foreign policy, balancing ties with Washington and Beijing, and follow a joint naval exercise with China earlier this month that Taiwan criticized as a provocation. The exercise signals continued US-Indonesia defense cooperation despite Jakarta's non-aligned stance.