Indonesia's budget battles sink its aircraft-carrier dreams
For a nation of more than 17,000 islands at the southern edge of one of the world's most contested waterways, the idea of an aircraft carrier might seem like a bold, even necessary, step.
Advertisement
But
Indonesia 's dream of owning such a symbol of naval might is colliding with a harsh reality: the lack of money and, perhaps, need.
'It seems that we need an aircraft carrier for non-war military operations,' Admiral Muhammad Ali said at a press conference on February 6, citing humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and maritime security among the potential uses for such an oceangoing platform.
Indonesia's Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali is seen at an air force base in Jakarta in 2023. Photo: AFP
The naval chief's remarks, reported by national news agency Antara, underline Indonesia's desire to modernise its navy, which has recently acquired two Italian frigates and has plans for more upgrades.
Yet observers remain unconvinced that an aircraft carrier, often seen as the crown jewel of naval power, is the right choice for Jakarta.
A pricey symbol
The idea of acquiring an aircraft carrier specifically for non-combat operations 'does not make strategic and operational sense', according to Abdul Rahman Yaacob, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute's Southeast Asia programme who specialises in defence and security.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
7 hours ago
- RTHK
Israeli military board Thunberg's Gaza-bound ship
Israeli military board Thunberg's Gaza-bound ship Activist Greta Thunberg and crew stand aboard the aid ship Madleen, which left the Italian port of Catania on June 1. File photo: Reuters The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said early on Monday that the Israeli military had "boarded" the Gaza-bound charity ship the Madleen. Connections have been lost on the ship, the coalition added in a post on Telegram. Earlier, the Israeli foreign ministry said its navy was communicating with the Madleen, instructing it to change its course as it approached a restricted area. The ministry referred to the ship as "selfie yacht" in a post on X. Before the Coalition lost contact with its vessel, it said quadcopters were surrounding the Madleen and spraying it with a 'white irritant substance'. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz told the military on Sunday to stop the charity boat, which is carrying activists - including Sweden's Greta Thunberg - planning to defy an Israeli blockade and reach Gaza. The British-flagged Madleen yacht set sail from Sicily on June 6. "I instructed the IDF to act so that the Madleen... does not reach Gaza," Katz said in a statement. "To the antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-propaganda-spouting friends, I say clearly: You'd better turn back, because you will not reach Gaza." Climate activist Thunberg said she joined the Madleen crew to "challenge Israel's illegal siege and escalating war crimes" in Gaza and highlight the urgent need for humanitarian aid. She has rejected previous Israeli accusations of antisemitism. Israel went to war with Hamas in October 2023 after the Islamist militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing more 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies. More than 54,000 Palestinians have died during the ongoing Israeli assault, according to Gaza health authorities, with much of the Palestinian territory reduced to rubble. The United Nations has warned that most of Gaza's 2.3 million population is at risk of famine. Katz said the blockade was essential to Israel's national security as it seeks to eliminate Hamas. Besides Thunberg, there are 11 other crew members aboard, including Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament. (Reuters)
RTHK
11 hours ago
- RTHK
Trump says he deployed troops to ensure law and order
Trump says he deployed troops to ensure law and order Members of the National Guard in downtown Los Angeles. Photo: AFP US President Donald Trump on Sunday said troops sent to Los Angeles would ensure "very strong law and order," while appearing to leave the door open to deploying soldiers in other cities. "You have violent people, and we are not going to let them get away with it," he told reporters regarding those protesting raids by immigration agents in California. "I think you're going to see some very strong law and order." Responding to a question about invoking the Insurrection Act, Trump said: "We're looking at troops everywhere. We're not going to let this happen to our country." (AFP)
RTHK
17 hours ago
- RTHK
Shot Colombian presidential contender operated on
Shot Colombian presidential contender operated on People light candles outside the Clinic Fundación Santa Fe, where Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay is receiving medical treatment. Photo: AFP A Colombian right-wing presidential candidate who was shot during a campaign event in Bogota has successfully undergone initial surgery, the city's mayor said on Sunday. 39-nine-year-old senator Miguel Uribe was speaking to supporters in the capital when a gunman shot him twice in the head and once in the knee before being detained. A security guard managed to detain the suspected attacker, a minor who is believed to be 15 years old. Uribe was airlifted to hospital in "critical condition" and underwent a "neurosurgical" and "peripheral vascular procedure," the Santa Fe Clinic in Bogota confirmed. He "overcame the first surgical procedure," Bogota mayor Carlos Fernando Galan told media, adding that he had entered "the critical hours" of recovery. His wife, in an audio recording shared with media, said "he came out well from the surgery." The motive for the attack is not yet publicly known. Colombia's defense minister Pedro Sanchez vowed to use law enforcement's full capabilities and offered a roughly US$725,000 reward for information about who was behind the shooting. In a video address to the nation posted on social media, President Gustavo Petro also promised investigations to find the perpetrators of the "day of pain". "What matters most today is that all Colombians focus with the energy of our hearts, with our will to live ... on ensuring that Dr Miguel Uribe stays alive." Uribe, a strong critic of Petro, is a member of the Democratic Center party, which announced last October his intention to run in the 2026 presidential election. Authorities said there was no specific threat made against the politician before the incident. Like many public figures in Colombia, Uribe had close personal protection. The country is home to several armed guerrilla groups, powerful cartels and has a long history of political violence. (AFP)
