Members of Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia vist a training site with Indonesian Marines ahead of last year's Keris Marine exercise in November 2022. (Ryan Pulliam/U.S. Marine Corps)
A relatively new Marine Corps rotational force is practicing coastal defense in Indonesia, the latest sign of strengthening ties between the United States and this predominantly Muslim nation bordering the contested South China Sea.
The Keris Marine exercise, now in its second year, involves about 150 members of Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia and 150 Indonesian marines training on the island of West Java, the Marines said in a statement Thursday. The drills began that day and run through Dec. 11.
The exercise offers “a pivotal opportunity for Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia as we immerse ourselves in jungle warfare training in Indonesia,” the rotation’s commander, Col. Thomas Siverts, said in the statement. “This is more than a training opportunity; it’s a chance to strengthen our relationship with the Indonesian Marines and enhance our mutual capabilities.”
The rotational force participated in the inaugural Keris Marine exercise in Indonesia last year. So far this year, the unit’s members have trained in the Philippines and Malaysia.
Indonesia’s Natuna Islands, northeast of Singapore, are near parts of the South China Sea claimed by China. Indonesian fisherman have reported intimidation by Chinese coast guard vessels in recent years.
Beijing, which claims nearly all of the South China Sea as its territory, has built military facilities on contested islands in the sea and frequently harasses foreign vessels and aircraft operating there.
The Keris Marine training includes coastal defense, joint fires, rocket artillery and small drones. The Marines will engage with local communities and swap knowledge, according to the Marine statement. The drills will conclude with platoon-level infantry rehearsals.
A radio operator with Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia takes part in last year's Keris Marine exercise in November 2022. (Kevin Seidensticker/U.S. Marine Corps)
“In this very exciting training situation, we need to make the most of this valuable opportunity,” Col. Bambang Dillanto, a spokesman for the Indonesian Marines, said in the statement. “We hope that the relationship between our Marine Corps will be stronger to support each other in facing complex problems in the future.”
The training follows a Nov. 16 visit to Jakarta by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who signed a defense cooperation agreement with Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto. He’s seen as a possible successor to President Joko Widodo, whose term ends next year.
“The Defense Cooperation Arrangement unlocks new opportunities for advanced cooperation that the United States will explore with Indonesia,” the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta said in a statement the next day.
Austin told reporters that the agreement followed the largest-ever iteration of Super Garuda Shield, a September exercise in Indonesia involving 4,000 American and Indonesian troops. “In that exercise, we had seven participating countries with 11 observer nations.”
