Australian forces land in Indonesia for joint exercises

Members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) have arrived In Indonesia, with their warship docking at Banyuwangi in East Java for a joint military exercise involving 2000 personnel from both countries.

The Keris Woomera Exercise is the largest combined joint activity by the two countries' military under the Australia-Indonesia Defence Co-operation Agreement.

"What we aim to do is simply increase co-operation with our neighbours, to increase our prosperity and security to share co-operation with our neighbours," Commander of the Australian Amphibious Task Force Captain Chris Doherty told reporters.

Commander Doherty said both parties would practice a joint landing operation, live fire and a non-combat evacuation used for a disaster.

The exercise in Indonesia will take place from Wednesday to Saturday after it was opened in Darwin, Australia, on November 3.

Indonesia has held military exercises with other countries, including one with the Naval forces of Russia on November 4 in the Java Sea near Surabaya, east of the capital Jakarta.