Eighteen navies expected to join naval exercise in Indonesia
At least 40 military vessels from 18 countries will join a multilateral naval exercise (MNE) in April in the Indonesian coastal regions of Batam, Natuna and Anambas.
At least 40 military vessels from 18 countries will join a multilateralnaval exercise (MNE) in April in the Indonesian coastal regions ofBatam, Natuna and Anambas.
The MNE, namely“Komodo 2014” was an idea of Indonesia and the United States toestablish a joint exercise between the navies of ASEAN member countriesand their eight dialogue partners.
Indonesiawill deploy 5,000 soldiers and 12 naval vessels to join the MNE Komodo2014, according to First Amidral Agus Heyana, commander of Navy Base 4in Tanjungpinang.
The naval exercise would notonly improve mutual understanding and capacity of cooperation betweenASEAN countries and its eight partners, but also increase economicconditions to the local people, Agus added.
ASEAN+8 includes ASEAN member countries in addition to the US, theRepublic of Korea, Australia, Russia, China, India, New Zealand andJapan.-VNA
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