Garuda Shakti 12th Edition: Indian Army Team Departs for Indonesia

New Delhi, October 25: A contingent of Indian Army special forces has left for Indonesia to join the 12th edition of the joint military exercise 'Garuda Shakti 2026'. The drill, to be held in Banyuwangi, will focus on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency tactics in jungle environments.

The primary purpose of the exercise is to build stronger coordination between the special forces of India and Indonesia. The two forces will work together to strengthen their ability to conduct joint operations, sharing strategies, methods and operational practices associated with special missions.

The Army has indicated that particular attention will be paid to operating in difficult forest areas where counter-terror and anti-insurgency challenges are common. Forest operations are among the toughest assignments for special forces. Dense growth, uneven routes and limited visibility can complicate movement, situational awareness and communication between units. Training under such conditions allows soldiers to refine their tactics when faced with harsh terrain.

Garuda Shakti has long been a key platform for strengthening defence ties between the Indian and Indonesian armies. It offers both sides a chance to understand each other's experience and procedures, leading to better coordination during joint operations.

The current edition is centred on deepening professional partnership and mutual trust among special forces personnel from both nations.

Beyond the drill itself, the exercise will help India and Indonesia share their military expertise and get better prepared to meet regional security challenges collectively.

The deployment follows the Army-to-Army Staff Talks held recently in India, where the two countries sought to bolster defence cooperation, explore new areas of partnership and build on existing collaboration. Both sides agreed to broaden bilateral defence cooperation and joint training.

During these talks, an Indian Army delegation held discussions on a range of defence and military issues with a delegation from the Indonesian Army, TNI-AD. The Indonesian side was led by Brigadier General Ari Prasetya, VACOS Intelligence.