Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) are conducting a joint disaster mitigation drill in Lebak, Banten province, from October 27 to 31.
Brigadier General Edi Saputra, Commander of the 064/Maulana Yusuf Military Resort, said on October 29 that the two sides are strengthening humanitarian and defence cooperation through the Bhakti Kanyini Ausindo 2025 joint training, which aims to enhance disaster preparedness in the Indo-Pacific region.
The exercise is part of a capacity-building effort to improve interoperability and coordination between the two militaries. It includes disaster mitigation simulations in which Indonesian and Australian troops operate under a unified command structure to strengthen their humanitarian mission capabilities. In addition to technical skills, the Bhakti Kanyini Ausindo exercise also seeks to foster empathy, mutual respect, and trust between military personnel from both countries.
The joint drill also involves military experts from the US and Timor-Leste, along with Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), National Police (Polri), National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).
It follows an agreement to expand Indonesia–Australia defence cooperation in non-combat military operations, reached during a recent meeting between Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and ADF Chief Admiral David Johnston in Jakarta./.
