Indonesia gets its first aircraft carrier amid debate over cost and military ambitions

Indonesia has acquired its first aircraft carrier, the former Italian warship ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, sparking debate over its cost and purpose. The 41-year-old vessel, capable of short takeoff and vertical landing, arrived in Jakarta on Friday and was welcomed with a military ceremony. Italy gifted the ship, which was retired in 2024, to bolster Indonesia's maritime security and disaster response capabilities.

The transfer, aimed at expanding Italy's defence engagement with Southeast Asia, also saves Indonesia from the cost of decommissioning the ship. Indonesia would become only the second Southeast Asian country with a carrier, following Thailand's HTMS Chakri Naruebet since 1997.

The carrier will be commissioned as KRI Gajah Mada, named after a 14th-century Majapahit-era military leader. Defence development is a priority for President Prabowo Subianto, who has advocated for submarines, frigates, fighter jets, and more defence cooperation. However, the acquisition has raised questions about whether Indonesia needs a carrier given its fiscal pressures and mounting costs.

Defence analysts, economists, and opposition politicians argue that the country may not require a carrier and that the government should prioritize spending on other essential projects. Critics question the vessel's operational necessity, warning that retrofitting the carrier could cost over 16 trillion rupiah ($900 million) alone.

Proponents, such as Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, argue that the aircraft carrier will serve as a mobile command centre and support hub for helicopters, drones, and maritime operations, helping combat forest and peatland fires and respond to natural disasters in the archipelago nation. Nevertheless, the debate continues over the true cost and purpose of this acquisition.