Indonesia is preparing to operate its first aircraft carrier, accepting the decommissioned Italian vessel Giuseppe Garibaldi as a grant from Rome. The 180-meter warship, which served Italy from 1985 to 2024, is expected to arrive in Indonesia by October of this year.
If fully operational, Indonesia would become only the second Southeast Asian country after Thailand to field an aircraft carrier. In Asia, only China, India, and Japan currently operate similar ships.
The move fits President Prabowo Subianto’s broader military modernization drive, launched during his time as defense minister and accelerated after taking office in late 2024. Fighter jets, missile systems, and warships were already part of the upgrade. A carrier, however, raises the stakes and the questions.
Strategic Asset or Strategic Liability?
Supporters argue Indonesia’s geography makes having a carrier a practical decision. With more than 17,000 islands and critical
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