India and Indonesia Commence 11th Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI at Banyuwangi

Key facts

• The 11th edition of the India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI commenced at Banyuwangi, Indonesia, and is being conducted from 27 October to 06 November 2026.
• The Indian contingent comprises troops from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), while the Indonesian contingent comprises personnel from the Indonesian Special Forces.
• The exercise aims to strengthen mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the Special Forces of the two nations.
• Training focuses on tactics, techniques and procedures for special operations in jungle environments, including obstacle crossing, combat marksmanship, mountaineering, air assault training and combat-hardening sessions.
• The exercise includes exchange of expertise on weapons, equipment and operational practices, and will culminate in a validation exercise simulating realistic operational scenarios to assess endurance, coordination and combat readiness.
• The exercise is intended to further strengthen defence cooperation and bilateral relations between India and Indonesia.