Made in Italy in Action. The Caio Duilio, an advanced air-defence destroyer, is tasked with protecting vital Indo-Mediterranean sea lanes, destabilised since November 2023 by the Houthis’ renewed campaign in solidarity with Hamas.
- The Kri Brawijaya (143 meters, 4,900 tons) is a multipurpose vessel with long-range projection capabilities, expressing Italian naval expertise. The newest and most modern warship in the Indonesian Navy was officially delivered to Jakarta’s fleet on July 3 of this year.
- The joint manoeuvres off Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, confirm Fincantieri’s role as a global exporter of cutting-edge naval technology.
The Maneuvers. The Italian Navy explained that the interaction “highlights the success and depth of cooperation” with its Indonesian counterpart, “a key Indo-Pacific partner actively engaged in contributing to maritime security and regional stability.”
- The exercise, featuring formation manoeuvres and simulated air-defence operations, concluded with a ceremonial pass-by of the Indonesian vessel, which rendered honours to the flagship of Rear Admiral Andrea Quondamatteo, Force Commander of Operation Aspides.
The Red Sea’s Sensitive Waters. Houthi attacks on commercial and military vessels have turned the area into a hotspot.
- For the West, it is a matter of freedom of navigation.
- For Asia, instability at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait raises constant concerns over its impact on supply chains to and from Europe.
A Crossroads of Interests. For Italy, the region is the junction connecting the Wider Mediterranean to the Indo-Pacific: a vital artery of global trade linking Europe and Asia.
- For Indonesia, naval cooperation strengthens its Indo-Pacific posture while opening channels with European partners. Jakarta is increasingly interested in projecting westward through military cooperation—as shown by its leading contribution to the UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon.
- Fincantieri’s contract, worth over €1.2 billion on the industrial front, strengthens Indonesia’s defence capabilities and deepens bilateral ties.
A Symbolic Convergence. The ceremonial salute between the Kri Brawijaya and the Duilio summed up the encounter’s meaning: not just military courtesy, but a shared commitment to maritime security on a global scale.
- For Italy, it reaffirmed its role as a bridge across the Indo-Mediterranean.
- For the international system, a reminder: the Indo-Mediterranean is both a lifeline of commerce and a potential flashpoint.
(Photo: X, @ItalianNavy)
