Commander of the National Defense Forces (TNI)  General Andika Perkasa has invited the Thai military to participate in the 2023 Super Garuda Shield exercise.

“It is very good for TNI soldiers to take part in many multinational exercises,” Perkasa said here on Sunday.

The invitation was conveyed by Perkasa when he received a visit from Thai Group Defense Attaché Captain Chayot Sawansan.

Perkasa said the meeting with the Thai Defense Attaché was part of strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and Thailand.

Strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, he said, included discussing tourism, culture, development, and innovation.

In the meeting, they also discussed several issues related to military exercise, including ones that Thailand organized.

Some TNI soldiers participated in some exercises that Thailand held, he mentioned. Perkasa expected that the participating personnel could learn from each others and expand friendships.

“I want Thailand to actually take part in our combined multinational exercises in Indonesia,” the TNI Commander added.

Meanwhile, Captain Sawansan said Thai military strength keeps making improvements and advancement.

“We have a combat exercise involving 15 countries,” Sawansan said.

The 2022 Super Garuda Shield exercise was joined by military personnel from, among others, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Canada, France, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the United Kingdom.

Super Garuda Shield 2022, from August 1 to 14, was a joint exercise between the TNI and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) to strengthen interoperability, capability, mutual trust and cooperation.

The joint military exercise was also aimed to create communication between the participating countries.

This year’s Garuda Shield joint exercise was held in three locations, the Combat Training Center in Baturaja, Palembang; Marine Combat Training Center in Dabo Singkep, Riau Islands; and the Combat Training Center in Amborawang, East Kalimantan.

Source:  Antara News