Indonesia welcomes its first aircraft carrier, prompting debate over cost and military ambitions
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia welcomed its first aircraft carrier Friday, a former Italian warship that the government says will strengthen the archipelago nation’s maritime security and disaster response capabilities. The 41-year-old former ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, with capacity for short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft and helicopters, was welcomed with a military ceremony upon its…
Indonesia has welcomed its first aircraft carrier, a former Italian warship called the Giuseppe Garibaldi, which will bolster the nation's maritime security and disaster response capabilities. The 41-year-old vessel, decommissioned in 2024, was delivered to Indonesia in a military ceremony held at the Tanjung Priok seaport in North Jakarta.
The carrier, capable of taking off and landing short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft and helicopters, will primarily serve as a mobile command center and support hub for helicopters, drones, and maritime operations across Indonesia's thousands of islands. It is expected to serve the navy for another 15 to 20 years.
However, the acquisition of the aircraft carrier has raised questions about whether Indonesia truly needs such a vessel for its defense and disaster-relief purposes. The Garibaldi's operational cost is significant, and experts have questioned whether Indonesia's leadership has adequately considered the vessel's costs and operational challenges.
Some lawmakers have warned that the overall bill could be far higher than initially approved. The Italian government gifted the carrier to Indonesia in exchange for deals on submarines and aircraft.
Written by urgent.news from Khaosod English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
