The annual military exercises between Indonesian and US armies will include more than a dozen countries this year, officials said. The 'Garuda Shield' joint training will see militaries from 14 countries -- including Britain, Australia and Japan -- participate in ground drills and beach-landing exercises from August 1-14 in Indonesia's South Sumatra archipelago and the East of Borneo island, the Indonesian Army said.
A US official said an estimated 3,000 soldiers will participate in the event. That would make it "the largest" edition since Garuda Shield was established in 2009, Albert Tambunan, an Indonesian military spokesperson said. This year's expansion of military cooperation signals an increase in defence ties between the US and some Asia Pacific nations, with tensions flaring in the disputed waters. The region abuts up to the flashpoint South China Sea -- a vital waterway that Beijing claims almost in its entirety, and has been a key point of contention between several Southeast Asian nations and China during annual meetings. - AFP
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