Jakarta, August 1, 2026 – The Europe Today: Indonesia and Australia have reinforced their cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster response through the Pacific Partnership 2026 joint exercise held in Sibolga, North Sumatra, from July 20 to August 1, bringing together military and civilian agencies from several partner countries.
According to the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, the exercise involved 113 specialists from Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United States working alongside Indonesian authorities to deliver humanitarian services while enhancing regional disaster preparedness, interoperability, and emergency response capabilities.
Australia deployed the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Choules in support of the exercise, continuing its longstanding participation in the Pacific Partnership programme since 2008 through the deployment of naval assets, medical teams, and disaster response specialists.
During the mission, HMAS Choules hosted representatives from Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), the Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas). Discussions focused on expanding bilateral civilian cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
Chief of Joint Operations Australia, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, said Indonesia and Australia share a long history of supporting one another during times of crisis, highlighting the strong partnership between the two countries.
He noted that Sibolga also holds historical significance due to its role in supporting Operation Sumatra Assist II in 2025, underscoring the city’s importance in regional humanitarian operations.
The Australian Embassy said Pacific Partnership 2026 supports key priorities outlined in Australia’s 2026 National Defence Strategy, including strengthening regional partnerships, enhancing humanitarian assistance and disaster response preparedness, and improving personnel readiness to contribute to peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific.
Commanding Officer of HMAS Choules, Commander Paul Hardman, said the vessel plays a vital role in enabling the Australian Defence Force to rapidly deploy personnel and essential equipment throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
He added that the experience gained and relationships built during the exercise would strengthen the ability of participating countries to respond collectively to future regional challenges.
Separately, Sibolga Mayor Akhmad Syukri Nazry Penarik expressed appreciation to the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the participating international delegations for selecting the city as the venue for the humanitarian exercise.
He said the programme provided valuable practical training through hospital disaster response simulations, school-based disaster preparedness education, and tactical emergency drills involving maritime collision scenarios, helping to strengthen local and regional emergency response capabilities.
