Jakarta : Units from the countries of ASEAN began their first ever joint military drills in Indonesia’s South Natuna Sea.
The five-day non-combat operation is aimed at developing military skills, including maritime security and patrols, and the distribution of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, the Indonesian military said in a statement.
All 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will join the exercise, including prospective member East Timor, Reuters reported.
“This is not a combat operation because ASEAN is more focused on economics. The training is more about social activities,” Yudo Margono, Indonesia’s military chief, told reporters after the opening ceremony on the Indonesian island of Batam on Tuesday.
