# Indonesia and Russia begin first joint naval drills in the Java Sea
Standfirst: The five-day exercise near Surabaya reflects Jakarta’s effort to balance military ties while preserving its long-standing non-aligned posture.
The Indonesian and Russian navies have begun their first joint military exercise in the Java Sea, marking a new stage in a relationship that Jakarta appears keen to expand without abandoning its traditional foreign-policy balancing act.
The drills, which began after Russian warships arrived on site on Sunday, are taking place near Surabaya and are scheduled to continue for five days until Friday. The Indonesian navy said Russia has sent three corvette-class warships, a medium tanker, a military helicopter and a tugboat.
Indonesian navy commander Denih Hendrata described the exercise as a chance to improve diplomatic relations between the two countries, especially between their navies. The Russian delegation, according to the Indonesian side, said the goal was to exchange knowledge.
The event comes as Indonesia’s newly inaugurated president, Prabowo Subianto, signals a desire to deepen ties with Moscow. Prabowo has called Russia a “great friend” and said he wanted to continue and strengthen the relationship. The evidence packet also notes that he has kept alive a major Russian fighter-jet deal despite reported concern about possible US sanctions.
At the same time, Indonesia has not abandoned its long-standing non-aligned stance. It has refused to take sides in the war in Ukraine or in broader great-power rivalry, and the DW report in the packet argues that the drills should be read less as a break from neutrality than as another route to preserve strategic autonomy.
That balancing act is visible in Indonesia’s wider defence diplomacy. The country regularly conducts joint activity with different partners, including large annual exercises with the United States and other training with European navies. The packet’s source points to that record as evidence that the Russian drills do not by themselves signal a wholesale shift in alignment.
The timing matters. Prabowo, who previously served as defence minister, has been seeking stronger relations with multiple powers while keeping Indonesia outside formal blocs. For Moscow, a naval exercise with Southeast Asia’s largest economy offers visibility and a sign that Russia remains able to project military relationships beyond its immediate neighbourhood.
For Jakarta, the drill looks like part of a wider effort to maximise options. In practical terms, that means keeping relationships open with Russia, the United States and others while preserving a public image of neutrality.
The first joint exercise is therefore about more than ships in one sea lane. It is also a test of how far Indonesia can widen its defence ties while still presenting itself as non-aligned in a more divided world.
