However, as Maj. Gen. Stephen Smith, commander of the US troops, had said this is not to be interpreted as a threat. Maj. Gen. Smith said this is a “purely military-to-military exercise.”
“This is not a threat or should not be viewed as a threat to anybody, anywhere,” Smith said.
“I’m proud to see how Garuda Shield has grown since last year – expanding this summer to a joint, multinational exercise that includes all of our service components,” said Gen. Charles Flynn, Commanding General of US Army Pacific. “It’s a symbol of the U.S.-Indonesia bond and the growing relationship between land forces in this consequential region… because land forces are the glue that binds the region’s security architecture together. We do that together by building readiness, building relationships, and by building trust. Bringing our forces together like this, we stitch the fabric of regional security into something lasting.”
Aside from tactical and military training, the exercise will also include cultural exchanges to strengthen the US-Indonesia partnership “through shared learning and training.” There will also be academic discussions, professional development workshops, and other activities focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Longstanding US-Indonesia Partnership
The US has been an ally of the Indonesian military. For decades, the US has supplied various military assistance to the country, like the International Military Education and Training (IMET). Under the Department of Defense Program, the US military provided $1.3 million in the program aiming to “increase professionalism, strengthen respect for democratic values and human rights.” However, the IMET was suspended from 1999-2002 because of concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military (TNI) in East Timor. However, in 2004, the IMET resumed under President Bush, funding the training with another $600,000.
The State Department also launched an Antiterrorism Assistance Program in 2006, spending $6 million to “train and equip” special Indonesian counterterrorism police called the Special Detachment 88 (SD-88).
Though a multi-million assistance package was sent to Indonesia over the years, Congress placed restrictions on US assistance. According to CFR, the military can only provide limited and conditional foreign military financing and is not permitted to offer lethal defense articles to Indonesia.
Prajurit dari 1st Special Forces Group – Airborne @USArmy membriefing kontingen prajurit @tni_ad dlm taktik skala regu,sbg persiapan Super #GarudaShield pd 30 Juli di Nimitz Training Area, Guam.
📸 Garuda Shield page pic.twitter.com/vUJ9WwZd85— ARCinc (@arcinc_id) July 31, 2022
So far, these programs have been proven effective. For example, US officials claim that their Indonesian military support was instrumental when an Australian embassy attack in Jakarta happened. According to Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism William P. Pope, the SD-88 was able to arrest the lead terrorist and apprehend three terrorists preparing for a bombing at a major shopping center.
Still, SD-88 is not failure-proof. The Bali bombings still happened, and the terrorist groups could still conduct their operations on Indonesian soil.
However, many are optimistic about the outcome of the Super Garuda Shield 2022.
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