Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon (BERITAPOLITIK.ONLINE) — The Indonesian Navy’s KRI Diponegoro-365, currently serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (MTF 448 UNIFIL), engaged in a joint exercise with several warships from member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the Mediterranean Sea.
In an official statement released by the Indonesian Navy Public Relations Office in Jakarta on Wednesday, the exercise took place earlier this week (11/03/2024) alongside the Italian warship ITS Carlo Bergamini F-590 in the Maritime Task Force 448 UNIFIL operational area in the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon.
Commander of KRI Diponegoro-365 and Commander of the MTF TNI Garuda Contingent XXVIII/O UNIFIL, Lieutenant Colonel Navy (P) Wirastyo Haprabu, as quoted in the same press release, explained that the exercise was initiated upon the invitation and request of ITS Bergamini.
He considered the joint exercise invitation as a manifestation of the strengthening relationship between the Indonesian Navy and the Italian Navy. Wirastyo also expressed confidence that the Italian Navy recognizes the professionalism and capabilities of the Indonesian Navy personnel.
Various exercises conducted by Indonesian and Italian Navy personnel included helicopter landing and takeoff operations on ships, maneuver exercises, formation drills, and information exchange exercises between ships.
The purpose of these exercises is to enhance bilateral relations between the navies of both countries and to align perceptions in procedures and training for the special forces personnel currently serving in UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, according to the official statement from the Indonesian Navy Public Relations Office.
Rear Admiral Stefano Frumento, Commander of the 1st Division of the Italian Navy, who led the exercise, praised the skills demonstrated by Indonesian Navy personnel aboard KRI Diponegoro-365 through ship radio communication and official correspondence sent to the Commander of KRI Diponegoro.
KRI Diponegoro, part of the MTF TNI Garuda Contingent XXVIII/O UNIFIL, has been serving with the UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon since early 2024. The Indonesian Navy ship sailed from Jakarta to Lebanon since late 2023, replacing KRI Frans Kaisiepo-368, which previously served in Lebanon with the UNIFIL MTF TNI Garuda Contingent XXVIII-N.
The Garuda Maritime Task Force Contingent is one of the task units within the UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, comprising solely of Indonesian Navy personnel.
In Lebanon, the MTF contingent is tasked with maintaining peace along the Lebanon-Israel border alongside other task units, including the Mechanized Battalion Task Force (INDOBATT), Force Headquarter Support Unit (FHQSU), Indo Force Protection Company (FPC), Civilian Military Coordination (CIMIC) Task Force, Military Community Outreach Unit (MCOU), and Level 2 Hospital Task Force.
Most of the Indonesian personnel serving with UNIFIL operate on land, while the MTF contingent carries out its duties at sea.
The responsibilities of the MTF UNIFIL personnel include patrolling waters, securing the borders, preventing illegal weapon smuggling, and conducting training for the Lebanese Navy personnel.
Source: ANTARA
