Indonesia hosts Komodo 2023 Naval Exercise involving geopolitical rivals

Asia-Pacific, News June 12, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Naval forces from 49 different countries gathered in Indonesia to participate in the 2023 Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo. Several regional and geopolitical rivals including North and South Korea, India, Pakistan, the U.S., and China participated in the exercise.

The naval drills were held off the coast of Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province in the waters off Makassar. According to the Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Mohammed Ali, “this exercise aims to enhance diplomatic capabilities, international cooperation, strengthen relationships and build cooperation with friendly nations.”

Ali said that “the participation of representatives from friendly navies demonstrates the importance of this activity in the international agenda that can contribute positively to achieving regional security, stability, and peace,” adding that at least 17 foreign warships joined the drills.

First held in 2013, the Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK) was established by the naval forces from U.S., Australia, China, India, the UK, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and Russia. The Komodo Naval Exercise continued annually until 2018 before being suspended due to the Covid-19 restrictions. This year was the first time that MNEK returned after the Covid-19 pandemic.

More than 40 naval vessels participated in the events, largely focusing on disaster relief and humanitarian operations. The Chinese navy sent the latest version of its Type 052D guided-missile destroyer, Zhanjiang, and the Type 054A frigate Xuchang to Indonesia.

*^{Dozens of countries including U.S., China, and Russia take part in the 4th Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo off South Sulawesi, Indonesia from June 5 to 8, 2023. (Image Credit: Twitter)}*

U.S. Navy’s Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Manchester (LCS 14) along with an attached MH-60R Seahawk participated in the exercise. The USS Manchester is on rotational deployment in the Indo-Pacific region, operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

Alongside the naval maneuvers, the event also included interactive events including a city parade, a culinary program, and a maritime exhibition. The presence of several regional rivals on the same stage provided a chance for the naval forces to develop a deeper understanding of the working dynamics of their counterparts.

Several experts believe that the ASEAN chair and the former host of the G20 summit, Indonesia, is quietly filling the role of the neutral broker in the Indo-Pacific region.

Military diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region

The regional geopolitical situation has changed a lot since the MNEK was held last time in 2018. The exercise came as China and the U.S. are ramping up their military diplomacy in the region, staging more frequent wargames and naval exercises to demonstrate their military capabilities.

*^{Chinese PLA Navy warship Type 052D Destroyer Zhanjiang (DDG 165) taking part in the Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK) 2023 in Indonesia. (Image Credit: Twitter)}*

The coastguards of the U.S., Japan, and the Philippines conducted separate maritime exercises around the same time as MNEK. This was the first time that the three navies help joint trilateral naval drills in the South China Sea. The exercise was named “Kaagapay,” a Filipino word meaning “standing side by side.” The drills were conducted in the waters off the coast of Bataan province of the Philippines.

China has also increased its military diplomacy in the region. Last month, China conducted military exercises in its landlocked neighbor Laos. The exercises also involved military forces from Singapore and Cambodia.