The 11th edition of Exercise Garuda Shakti, the India–Indonesia joint special forces exercise, ran from 27 October to 6 November 2026 at Banyuwangi in East Java, Indonesia. It ends today, 6 November, after a final 48-hour validation exercise in jungle terrain.

What the exercise covered

  • Indian contingent: troops from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces)
  • Indonesian contingent: personnel from the Indonesian Special Forces (TNI-AD)
  • Focus: jungle warfare, combat marksmanship, mountaineering, air assault training and combat-hardening sessions
  • Final validation: a 48-hour exercise from 3 November, including a joint ambush, a heli-borne assault on a simulated enemy camp, combat tracking and Tactical Combat Casualty Care
  • Troops also trained with drones for surveillance and reconnaissance in dense jungle

Why it matters

Garuda Shakti strengthens cooperation and interoperability between the special forces of India and Indonesia, two key partners in the Indo-Pacific. The previous edition was held at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, in December 2025.

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