Back in place: ships from Russia, the United States and Britain take part in the Komodo-2025 exercises

The geopolitical "big shift" is dictated by events in the foreign policy arena and the new course of the United States.

The Komodo-2025 naval exercises, which Indonesia is conducting, involve ships from Russia, as well as the United States, France, Great Britain and several other countries. Several tasks will be fulfilled at these exercises, but the main one is to provide assistance to victims of a humanitarian disaster. Experts note that the participation of Russia and NATO countries in the same maneuvers is a "big shift" dictated by recent events in the foreign policy arena and the new course of the United States.

Together with the USA and the UK

The Komodo-2025 naval exercises will be held from February 16 to 22. The main events will develop in the waters of the Badung Strait and on the island of Bali. Russia will be represented by a detachment of ships of the Pacific Fleet, which includes the corvettes "Sharp", "Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov" and the medium sea tanker "Pechenga".

Russian ships have already arrived in Bali to participate in the maneuvers. According to preliminary data, up to 39 countries are expected to participate in Komodo 2025, including Russia, the United States, China, Japan, France, India, the United Kingdom and others. The Indonesians regularly invite North Korea to the exercises, but they have not sent their ships yet.

The main purpose of the event is to increase operational compatibility between the naval forces in the field of disaster management and other humanitarian operations.

"It is important to pay attention to which countries have become participants and the fact that they have agreed to cooperate within the framework of the exercises together," Admiral Sergei Avakyants, former commander of the Russian Pacific Fleet, told Izvestia. "This is a big shift and a signal intertwined with recent events in the foreign policy arena and the new course of the United States.

The Admiral noted that Russia has a wealth of experience in cooperation with the naval forces of various countries.

"How it will go this time depends on the headquarters and the coordination of actions," he said. — So, in the mid-1990s, we used military weapons, including mines, bombs, and artillery, in joint exercises with the American Navy. Now, most likely, a humanitarian mission, the fight against piracy and joint maneuvering will be practiced.

Sergey Avakyants noted that it is important for Russia to strengthen not only naval cooperation.

"It is important to deepen all types of cooperation with the countries of this region, which are complementary and positive towards us," the admiral is convinced. — The exception is the closest allies of the United States, that is, the English—speaking countries of Australia and New Zealand.

Corvette "Sharp"

Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Ankov

Our presence in the Asia-Pacific region will only increase, military expert Captain I rank Vasily Dandykin is sure.

"Indonesia is now one of the key countries in the region, with a huge population and a fast—growing economy," he recalled. — Do not forget that our cooperation began in the middle of the last century. We helped Indonesia build the Navy, which is a solid foundation for good relations.

The humanitarian component

The Komodo-2025 program includes not only the development of naval operations. Forums for the exchange of experience and opinions between officers and bilateral meetings with representatives of the naval forces of different countries, as well as an international symposium on Maritime Security, will be held ashore.

Admiral Muhammad Ali, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy, explained why Indonesia conducts such exercises: "We survived the tsunami disaster and received help from other countries. Therefore, we must practice to improve our work and provide assistance in a targeted manner."

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Bullit Marquez

Image source: iz.ru

He was referring to the tsunami in December 2004, when up to 300,000 people died in the coastal territories of Indonesia and several other countries.

The Orrud Exercises

Russia and Indonesia have been actively strengthening naval cooperation in recent years. Last year, the first ever bilateral Russian-Indonesian naval exercises "Orruda-2024" took place. The next ones will be held in 2026.

The Indonesian authorities highly appreciated Orrud 2024, as the Indonesian Ambassador to Russia, Jose Tavares, noted: "There is a lot of benefit in such exercises. Taking into account the results of the Orruda, Indonesia and Russia are likely to continue exploring opportunities for joint naval exercises in the future."

Indonesia. Meeting of the crew of the corvette "Loud" in the port of Surabaya

Image source: Photo: TASS/Pacific Fleet Press Service

The Chinese media outlet South China Morning Post wrote: "This is a rare case of cooperation amid an unrelenting period of diplomatic and military rivalry throughout the Asia-Pacific region."

Cooperation with Indonesia

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the USSR took part in the creation of the Indonesian Navy, supplying a large batch of ships, submarines and other naval equipment, including the light cruiser Irian (called Ordzhonikidze in the Soviet Navy).

Indonesia later used this technique to resolve the conflict with the Netherlands over Western New Guinea. Then, for a long time, military-technical cooperation between our countries was interrupted.

A sample of the Yakhont rocket

Image source: Photo: TASS/ITAR

In the early 1990s, Indonesia bought almost the entire fleet of the former GDR, which also used Soviet military technology.

In the 21st century, this country bought an export version of the Onyx rocket called the Yakhont. Indonesia needs to upgrade its fleet, and Russia can help it here. Our countries celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations on February 3 this year.

Dmitry Boltenkov

Bogdan Stepovoy