Indonesia gets first aircraft carrier, sparks debate over cost & military ambitions
Indonesia has acquired a 41-year-old former Italian aircraft carrier, which will be repurposed for disaster response and helicopter operations. The move has sparked domestic debate regarding the high costs of retrofitting and the country's long-term military ambitions.
Why it matters
The acquisition reflects Indonesia's efforts to modernize its military capabilities while balancing fiscal constraints and regional security concerns.
Indonesia on Friday welcomed its first aircraft carrier, a 41-year-old former Italian Navy vessel, as president Prabowo Subianto’s government seeks to modernise the country’s ageing military while positioning the ship as a platform for disaster response.The former ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi arrived at North Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok port after sailing from Italy via the Suez Canal, Red Sea, Colombo and the Malacca Strait. It was received with a military ceremony. The carrier will be renamed the KRI Sriwijaya next week KRI Sriwijaya.Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Muhammad Ali said the ship would be particularly useful in an archipelago frequently hit by natural disasters.“There are many disasters in this country.
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