The Indonesian and Australian militaries are holding joint combat drills off Indonesia’s main island of Java with about 2,000 troops training in air, maritime, amphibious and land operations.

SITUBONDO: More than 2,000 Indonesian and Australian troops held joint military drills on Wednesday (Nov 13), after the allies signed a new defence agreement pledging closer cooperation to counter security threats in the Asia-Pacific region.

Indonesia has held military exercises with other countries, including Russia, and recently engaged in a confrontation with China.

Indonesia’s new President Prabowo Subianto posted a video of his phone call congratulating Donald Trump on his reelection, during which the former special forces commander referenced his American “training” and called the US-president elect “sir” multiple times.

Indonesia’s new President Prabowo Subianto is covering all his bases during his trip to the United States. He posted online a nearly three-minute congratulatory phone call to Donald Trump for his 2024 presidential election triumph the day before he was due to meet President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday.

Indonesia denied that it had effectively recognized China’s disputed claims in the South China Sea after a joint statement with Beijing over developing contested areas came under fierce criticism.

Indonesia said on Monday it does not recognise China's claims over the South China Sea, despite signing a maritime development deal with Beijing, as some analysts warned the pact risked compromising its sovereign rights.