Indonesia launches multilateral naval exercise

The Indonesian Navy said in a statement that the regular Komodo exercise was an exercise aimed at "strengthening relationships between the navies" of 36 countries.

Indonesian Navy ship KRI Bawal-875 during the International Fleet Review, part of the Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK) 2023 at Makassar Sea, South Sulawesi province, Indonesia on June 5, 2023. Photo: Antara

The Indonesian navy said 15 ships, including Chinese and Russian vessels, were anchored off Sulawesi island on Monday as the Komodo exercise began.

The Chinese navy sent the destroyer Zhanjiang and the destroyer Xuchang, both equipped with guided missiles, to participate in the drills, Chinese state media CCTV reported on Monday.

Vietnamese ship 20 at anchor preparing for the exercise. Photo: People's Army Newspaper

Ship 20 of Brigade 172, Naval Region 3 of Vietnam, led by Colonel Nguyen Quoc Quang, Deputy Commander of Naval Region 3, participated in the exercise held from June 4 to June 8.

This year's Komodo exercise is the fourth joint naval exercise Indonesia has hosted, following the first in 2014.

Bui Huy (according to QĐND, CNA, VNA)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/indonesia-khoi-dong-cuoc-tap-tran-hai-quan-da-phuong-post250509.html