Australian Defense Force arrives in Indonesia ahead of largest joint exercises

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — An Australian Operator with 2nd Commando Regiment, Special Operations Command participates in a live-fire range during Balakitan 22 at El Nido, Palawan, Philippines, March 30, 2022. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mario A. Ramirez via U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

By Prasto Wardoyo

BANYUWANGI (Reuters) - Members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) arrived on Sunday with their warship docking at Banyuwangi in East Java, Indonesia for a joint military exercise, which will involve 2,000 personnel from both countries.

The Keris Woomera Exercise is the largest combined joint activities by the two countries' military under the Australia-Indonesia Defence Cooperation Agreement.

"What we aim to do is simply increase cooperation with our neighbours, to increase our prosperity and security to share cooperation with our neighbours." Commander of the Australian Amphibious Task Force Captain Chris Doherty told reporters.

Doherty said that both parties will practice a joint landing operation, live-fire and a non-combat evacuation used for a disaster.

The exercise in Indonesia will take place on Nov. 13-16 after it was opened in Darwin, Australia on Nov. 3.

Indonesia has held military exercises with other countries, such as one with the Naval forces of Russia on Nov. 4 in the Java Sea near Surabaya, east of the capital Jakarta.



(Writing by Stefanno Sulaiman, Editing by Louise Heavens)