US and Indonesia stage joint military drill as Washington steps up engagement with Southeast Asia

More than 4,500 army personnel are taking part in the largest-ever Garuda Shield exercise, seen as a significant commitment as Covid-19 rages

Analysts say the drill and foreign minister Retno Marsudi’s visit to the US are part of Jakarta’s efforts to strengthen ties with the Biden administration

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American and Indonesian soldiers during the Garuda Shield military exercise. Photo: Facebook

Published: 11:05pm, 3 Aug 2021Updated: 12:20am, 4 Aug 2021

More than 4,500 military personnel from Indonesia and the United States are taking part in a two-week joint drill that analysts say underscores the countries’ determination to enhance their already strong defence ties, even as Covid-19 rages in the Southeast Asian nation.

The exercise comes amid Washington’s show of effort to engage the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) through visits to the region by senior members of US President Joe Biden’s cabinet – though their decision to bypass Jakarta was described as a “snub” in a Tuesday editorial in English-language daily The Jakarta Post.

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin’s three-country tour of Southeast Asia last week saw him visit Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam. In Manila, Austin met with President Rodrigo Duterte, who agreed to continue with the Visiting Forces Agreement allowing US troops in the Philippines for military exercises – a deal that has taken on greater significance as Washington seeks to counter China’s growing influence in the region.

Vice-President Kamala Harris is also set to visit Vietnam and Singapore this month.

The highest-ranked official in the Biden administration to have visited Indonesia has been Deputy US Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, whose trip was in May.

Nevertheless, analysts say the joint army drill – which is part of the annual Garuda Shield military exercise between the US and Indonesia – underlines that both countries are deeply invested in strengthening their relationship.